Is this a milk thistle

This is growing on South Pender Island and I want to know if it is a milk thistle which is considered an invasive species. In any case I will be removing it. I just want to know what I am dealing with. Thanks for viewing.

 

Looks like Cirsium vulgare (Bull Thistle).

 

Thanks. Now that I have looked at images of both, I can see the differences.

 

Spear Thistle Cirsium vulgare (not Bull Thistle)

 

Thanks. It looks like the best control method is to not let it go to seed, and dig the root.

 

Cirsium vulgare been known as Bull Thistle, Spear Thistle, Plume Thistle, Boar Thistle, Scotch Thistle...

 

Spear Thistle is the correct English name though.

 

Note that the use of the word "Scotch" (when not applied to specific products like food or drink) is considered a pejorative in Scotland. Better to let that common name for this thistle fade away.

 

When I was at school in Edinburgh we were told this reason for the emblem of Scotland. http://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofScotland/The-Thistle-National-Emblem-of-Scotland/
Sorry to go off topic.
Margaret
ps Am a great fan of the liquid scotch if not the thistle!

 

It seems a bit over-reacting. The Scottish National Tourism Organization, on their Visit Scotland pages, under "Uniquely Scottish", titles their page about it "Scottish Thistle" but does say

scotland.com's blog calls it "the thistle". :)