Musk Thistle Nodding Thistle (Carduus Nutans)

At first glance I was hoping this thistle (I found on the side of the road in my neighborhood) was a Milk Thistle but they're not so common where I live. My youngest son and I dug it up and moved it to our backyard yesterday. This thistle is considered a noxious weed by many and all those prickles can be absolutely painful ! We had some of these in our backyard in the 1990's from some flower seeds someone gave us. I loved the purple flowers but hated being stuck all the time and was glad when they didn't come back up. I now will welcome it's return at least for a while anyway. Musk Thistle or Nodding Thistle is not native to the United States but has been recorded here as far back as 1852 in Pennsylvania . It's in the Aster family and is edible. If you have patience to cut away all those prickles on the stalk that is. :) The stalks must be harvested when still young.  It's also said that seeds can be used as a liver detoxifying agent. They contain linoleic acid which could also benefit in the prevention of atherosclerosis. Maybe I'll taste this in the future but today I'll just admire the purple flower. God's creation is growing all around us. Are you discovering it ?       

Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?  Matthew 7:16 

Musk Thistle  Nodding Thistle (Carduus Nutans) 

Musk Thistle  Nodding Thistle (Carduus Nutans) 

Musk Thistle  Nodding Thistle (Carduus Nutans) 

Musk Thistle  Nodding Thistle (Carduus Nutans) 

Musk Thistle  Nodding Thistle (Carduus Nutans) 

Musk Thistle  Nodding Thistle (Carduus Nutans) 

Musk Thistle  Nodding Thistle (Carduus Nutans) 

Musk Thistle  Nodding Thistle (Carduus Nutans) 

Musk Thistle  Nodding Thistle (Carduus Nutans)