Author 'Nicoledesplat' (Id 148892 ) : Nodding thistle (Carduus nutans (Compositae)). : 11: On the edge of a road, I found this nodding thistle in bloom. The flowers of nodding thistle smell sweet, slightly musky, and attract many insects. Formerly, young inflorescences were eaten as artichokes are cooked and the young shoots and leaves. The flower head is 3-6cm in diameter, usually inclined stems with leaves are almost to the top and are welded to the stem (decurrent), which protect the thorny plant. When one crosses his path this thistle is known that the soil is rich in nitrogen. : 18: