ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Thistle

Thistle is a spiky plant that grows in many parts of the world including North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Its leaves and stems are covered with sharp spines that can poke you if you touch them. Thistle has pretty flowers that are usually pink, purple or white in color. Bees, butterflies and birds love visiting thistle flowers to sip on their sweet nectar.

Thistle may be a prickly nuisance to gardeners, but it's actually very important to the environment because it provides food for animals and insects. In fact, thistle is the only type of plant that some of the endangered species rely on for food.

Humans have also found some use for thistle. Some people use thistle leaves to make tea or extracts, which are said to be helpful for reducing inflammation, treating coughs, and enhancing liver function.

Overall, thistle may not be the friendliest-looking plant, but it plays an essential role in our ecosystem and can also be useful in treating some health conditions.