Cirsium spicatum is a perennial herb that inhabits dry grasslands in hilly districts; its stems reach 1.5-2m in height and have short branches. On-stem leaves are 25-30cm long, oblong, and pinnately cleft halfway, the ends tapering to long points. Prickles are thick, each 3-10mm in size. Many flower heads appear on spikes and bloom upwards or diagonally upwards. Involucres are 1.5-1.7cm in width, and the involucral bracts recurve. Bloom time: August-October.