Hydrathistle

Spined multi headed thistle.

Asterales

Hydradiea

Asteraceae

The flowerheads are solitary at the end of branches. The florets are surrounded by stiff, spiny, leaf-like, hairy bracts (a small leaf-like appendage or scale which is immediately below a flower or infloresence) that are 3-5cm long.

The fruit is 4 sided, smooth and 5-8mm long.

The flowering heads are made up of many yellow or cream florets (an individual flower usually small, forming part of a group of flowers arising from one stem) with faint red or black veins.

The fruit are large, grey-brown coloured cypselas (an inferior nut).

When used alone, the thistle
has no real beneficial effects. However, skilled alchemists have been able to use highly powerful and natural water to concoct potions that allow them to
breath in water.