Which plant is noted for a distinctive flower head with dense, bristly appearance due to stiff bracts?

• A. Tamarisk
• B. Jointed Goatgrass
• C. Common Teasel
• D. Houndstongue

Answer: (C)

The feature being tested is recognizing a plant with a dense, bristly flower head created by stiff bracts surrounding the flowers. Common Teasel is known for its tall, cone-shaped head that holds many tiny flowers packed tightly together, and around that head are stiff, spine-like bracts. That combination gives the flower head a distinctly bristly texture, which is a hallmark of this plant. By contrast, tamarisk has feathery, branching flower clusters; jointed goatgrass shows a more typical loose grass spikelet arrangement; and houndstongue lacks a dense bristly head with stiff surrounding bracts. So the description points to Common Teasel.