Thorns, Thistles and Prickles list of spinescent species in the Israeli flora Thorns are modified branches or stems. Spines are modified leaves, stipules, or parts of leaves. Prickles are more comparable to hairs, i.e. they are extensions of the cortex (the outer layer of the stem) and epidermis (the dermal tissue system of leaves, stems, roots, flowers, fruits, and seeds). see: Thorns and Thistles in the Bible Scientific name Family Name Spinescence Acacia farnesiana Mimosaceae stipules Acacia laeta Mimosaceae stipules Acacia pachyceras / gerrardii Mimosaceae stipules Acacia paradoxa Mimosaceae stipules Acacia raddiana Mimosaceae stipules Acacia tortilis Mimosaceae stipules Acantholimon libanoticum Plumbaginaceae leaves Acantholimon ulicinum Plumbaginaceae leaves Acanthus syriacus Acanthaceae bracts Achyranthes aspera Amaranthaceae flowers Ajuga chamaepytis Labiatae / Lamiaceae emergences Alhagi graecorum / maurorum Papilionaceae stems Alternanthera pungens Amaranthaceae flowers Amaranthus albus Amaranthaceae bracts Amaranthus palmeri Amaranthaceae flowers Amaranthus spinosus Amaranthaceae emergences Anchusa strigosa Boraginaceae emergences Argemone mexicana Papaveraceae leaves Asparagus acutifolius Liliaceae stems Asparagus aphyllus Liliaceae stems Asparagus horridus/stipularis Liliaceae stems Asparagus setaceus Liliaceae leaves Astragalus angustifolius Papilionaceae stems Astragalus bethlehemiticus Papilionaceae leaves Astragalus cephalotes Papilionaceae leaves Astragalus coluteoides Papilionaceae leaves Astragalus cruentiflorus Papilionaceae leaves Astragalus deinacanthus Papilionaceae leaves Astragalus echinus Papilionaceae leaves Astragalus gummifer Papilionaceae leaves Atractylis cancellata Compositae / Asteraceae leaves , bracts Atractylis carduus Compositae / Asteraceae leaves , bracts Atractylis comosa Compositae / Asteraceae leaves , bracts Atractylis phaeolepis Compositae / Asteraceae leaves , bracts Atractylis prolifera Compositae / Asteraceae leaves , bracts Atractylis serratuloides Compositae / Asteraceae leaves , bracts Atraphaxis spinosa Polygonaceae stems Balanites aegyptiaca Zygophyllaceae stems Bassia muricata Chenopodiaceae flowers Berberis cretica Berberidaceae emergences Bidens pilosa Compositae / Asteraceae fruits Bidens tripartita Compositae / Asteraceae fruits Blepharis attenuata Acanthaceae leaves Calicotome villosa Papilionaceae stems Capparis aegyptica Capparaceae stipules Capparis cartilaginea / sinaica Capparaceae stipules Capparis decidua Capparaceae stipules Capparis sicula Capparaceae stipules Capparis zoharyi Capparaceae stipules Cardopatium corymbosum Compositae / Asteraceae leaves , bracts Carduncellus eriocephalus Compositae / Asteraceae leaves , bracts Carduus acicularis Compositae / Asteraceae leaves , bracts Carduus argentatus Compositae / Asteraceae leaves , bracts Carduus australis Compositae / Asteraceae leaves , bracts Carduus getulus Compositae / Asteraceae leaves , bracts Carlina curetum Compositae / Asteraceae bracts Carlina lanata Compositae / Asteraceae bracts Carlina libanotica Compositae / Asteraceae bracts Carlina racemosa Compositae / Asteraceae bracts Carthamus glaucus Compositae / Asteraceae leaves , bracts Carthamus nitidus Compositae / Asteraceae leaves , bracts Carthamus persicus Compositae / Asteraceae leaves , bracts Carthamus tenuis Compositae / Asteraceae leaves , bracts Cenchrus echinatus Gramineae / Poaceae bracts Cenchrus incertus Gramineae /Poaceae bracts Centaurea aegyptiaca Compositae / Asteraceae bracts Centaurea ammocyanus Compositae / Asteraceae bracts Centaurea ascalonica Compositae / Asteraceae bracts Centaurea balsamita Compositae / Asteraceae bracts Centaurea behen Compositae / Asteraceae bracts Centaurea crocodylium Compositae / Asteraceae bracts Centaurea drabifolia Compositae / Asteraceae bracts Centaurea eriophora Compositae / Asteraceae bracts Centaurea eryngioides Compositae / Asteraceae bracts Centaurea hyalolepis Compositae / Asteraceae bracts Centaurea iberica Compositae / Asteraceae bracts Centaurea lanulata Compositae / Asteraceae bracts Centaurea onopordifolia Compositae / Asteraceae leaves , bracts Centaurea pallescens Compositae / Asteraceae bracts Centaurea pallescens Compositae / Asteraceae bracts Centaurea pumilio Compositae / Asteraceae bracts Centaurea rigida Compositae / Asteraceae bracts Centaurea scoparia Compositae / Asteraceae bracts Centaurea sinaica Compositae / Asteraceae bracts Centaurea solstitialis Compositae / Asteraceae bracts Centaurea speciosa Compositae / Asteraceae bracts Centaurea verutum Compositae / Asteraceae bracts Cerasus prostata Rosaceae stems Cirsium alatum Compositae / Asteraceae leaves , bracts Cirsium gaillardotii Compositae / Asteraceae leaves , bracts Cirsium phyllocephalum Compositae / Asteraceae leaves , bracts Cirsium vulgare Compositae / Asteraceae leaves , bracts Cnicus benedictus Compositae / Asteraceae bracts Cornulaca monacantha Chenopodiaceae leaves , flowers Cousinia hermonis Compositae / Asteraceae leaves , bracts Cousinia libanotica Compositae / Asteraceae leaves , bracts Cousinia moabitica Compositae / Asteraceae leaves , bracts Crataegus aronia Rosaceae stems Crataegus azorolus Rosaceae stems Crataegus monogyna Rosaceae stems Crepis aspera Compositae / Asteraceae leaves , emergences Crypsis vaginiflora Gramineae / Poaceae bracts Cynara syriaca Compositae / Asteraceae leaves , bracts Datura ferox Solanaceae fruits Daucus aureus Umbelliferae / Apiaceae fruits Daucus broteri Umbelliferae / Apiaceae fruits Daucus carota Umbelliferae / Apiaceae fruits Daucus durieua Umbelliferae / Apiaceae fruits Daucus glaber Umbelliferae / Apiaceae fruits Daucus guttatus Umbelliferae / Apiaceae fruits Daucus jordanicus Umbelliferae / Apiaceae fruits Desmostachya bipinnata Gramineae /Poaceae leaves Dipsacus laciniatus Dipsacaceae bracts, emergences Echinops adenocaulos Compositae / Asteraceae leaves , bracts Echinops gaillardotii Compositae / Asteraceae leaves , bracts Echinops glaberrimus Compositae / Asteraceae leaves , bracts Echinops philistaeus Compositae / Asteraceae leaves , bracts Echinops polyceras Compositae / Asteraceae leaves , bracts Echinops viscosus Compositae / Asteraceae leaves , bracts Echium rauwolfii Boraginaceae emergences Elaeagnus angustifolia Elaeagnaceae emergences Emex spinosa Polygonaceae fruits Eryngium barrelieri Umbelliferae / Apiaceae leaves , bracts Eryngium billardierei Umbelliferae / Apiaceae leaves , flowers Eryngium bourgatii Umbelliferae / Apiaceae leaves , flowers Eryngium creticum Umbelliferae / Apiaceae leaves , bracts Eryngium falcatum Umbelliferae / Apiaceae leaves , bracts Eryngium glomeratum Umbelliferae / Apiaceae leaves , bracts Eryngium maritimum Umbelliferae / Apiaceae leaves , bracts Euphorbia erinacea Euphorbiaceae stems Exoacantha heterophylla Umbelliferae / Apiaceae bracts Fagonia arabica Zygophyllaceae stipules Fagonia bruguieri Zygophyllaceae stipules Fagonia glutinosa Zygophyllaceae stipules Fagonia mollis Zygophyllaceae stipules Fagonia scabra Zygophyllaceae stipules Fagonia tenuifolia Zygophyllaceae stipules Faidherbia albida Mimosaceae stipules Forsskaolea tenacissima Urticaceae emergences Genista fasselata Papilionaceae stems Genista libanotica Papilionaceae stems Glycyrrhiza echinata Papilionaceae fruits Gundelia tournefortii Compositae / Asteraceae leaves , bracts Hedysarum spinosissimum Papilionaceae fruits Helminthotheca echioides Compositae / Asteraceae emergences Hyoscyamus albus Solanaceae flowers Hyoscyamus desertorum Solanaceae flowers Hyoscyamus pusillus Solanaceae flowers Hyoscyamus reticulatus Solanaceae flowers Hyphaene thebaica Palmae leaves Iphiona mucronata Compositae / Asteraceae leaves Iphiona scabra Compositae / Asteraceae leaves Juncus acutus Juncaceae leaves Juncus maritimus Juncaceae leaves Juncus rigidus ( Juncaceae leaves Juncus subulatus Juncaceae leaves Lactuca aculeata Compositae / Asteraceae emergences Lactuca orientalis Compositae / Asteraceae stems Lantana camara Verbenaceae emergences Launaea spinosa Compositae / Asteraceae stems Lepidium spinosum Cruciferae / Brassicaceae stems Lisaea strigosa Umbelliferae / Apiaceae fruits Lycium europaeum Solanaceae stems Lycium depressum Solanaceae stems Lycium schweinfurthii Solanaceae stems Lycium shawii Solanaceae stems Marrubium alysson Labiatae / Lamiaceae flowers Medicago murex Papilionaceae fruits Minuartia juniperina Caryophyllaceae leaves Moluccella laevis Labiatae / Lamiaceae bracts Moluccella spinosa Labiatae / Lamiaceae flowers Neurada procumbens Neuradaceae fruits Nitraria retusa Zygophyllaceae stems Nitraria schoberi Zygophyllaceae stems Noaea mucronata Chenopodiaceae stems Notobasis syriaca Compositae / Asteraceae leaves , bracts Onobrychis caput-galli Papilionaceae fruits Onobrychis cornuta Papilionaceae stems Onobrychis crista-galli Papilionaceae fruits Onobrychis squarrosa Papilionaceae fruits Ononis spinosa Papilionaceae stems Onopordum alexandrinum Compositae / Asteraceae leaves , bracts Onopordum ambiguum Compositae / Asteraceae leaves , bracts Onopordum anisacanthum Compositae / Asteraceae leaves , bracts Onopordon blamcheanum Compositae / Asteraceae leaves , bracts Onopordum carduiforme Compositae / Asteraceae leaves , bracts Onopordum cynarocephalum Compositae / Asteraceae leaves , bracts Onopordum floccosum Compositae / Asteraceae leaves , bracts Onopordum jordanicolum Compositae / Asteraceae leaves , bracts Onopordum macrocephalum Compositae / Asteraceae leaves , bracts Onopordum palaestinum Compositae / Asteraceae leaves , bracts Orlaya daucoides Umbelliferae / Apiaceae fruits Paliurus spina-christi Rhamnaceae stipules Pallenis spinosa Compositae / Asteraceae bracts Parkinsonia aculeata Caesalpiniaceae stipules Phlomis pungens Labiatae / Lamiaceae flowers Phoenix dactylifera Palmae leaves Phragmites frutescens Gramineae /Poaceae leaves Picnomon acarna Compositae / Asteraceae leaves , bracts Prosopis farcta Mimosaceae emergences Prunus ursina Rosaceae stems Pseudorlaya pumila Umbelliferae / Apiaceae fruits Pteranthus dichotomus Caryophyllaceae fruits Ptilostemon chamaepeuce Compositae / Asteraceae bracts Ptilostemon diacantha Compositae / Asteraceae leaves , bracts Pyrus syriaca Rosaceae stems Quercus calliprinos Fagaceae leaves Rhamnus lycioides Rhamnaceae stems Rhamnus disperma Rhamnaceae stems Rhamnus punctata Rhamnaceae stems Rhus pentaphylla Anacardiaceae stems Rhus tripartita Anacardiaceae stems Robinia pseudoacacia Papilionaceae stipules Rosa canina Rosaceae emergences Rosa phoenicia Rosaceae emergences Rosa pulverulenta Rosaceae emergences Rubus canescens Rosaceae emergences Rubus sanguineus Rosaceae emergences Ruscus aculeatus Asparagaceae stems Sageretia thea Rhamnaceae stems Salsola tragus / kali Chenopodiaceae leaves Sarcopoterium spinosum Rosaceae stems Sclerocephalus arabicus Caryophyllaceae fruits Scolymus hispanicus Compositae / Asteraceae leaves , bracts Scolymus maculatus Compositae / Asteraceae leaves , bracts Serratula pusilla Compositae / Asteraceae bracts Sida spinosa Malvaceae stipules Sideritis montana Labiatae / Lamiaceae flowers Sideritis remota Labiatae / Lamiaceae flowers Silybum marianum Compositae / Asteraceae leaves , bracts Smilax aspera Liliaceae emergences Solanum cornutum Solanaceae leaves , flowers Solanum elaeagnifolium Solanaceae emergences Solanum incanum Solanaceae emergences Teucrium spinosum Labiatae / Lamiaceae stems , flowers Torilis arvensis Umbelliferae / Apiaceae fruits Torilis gaillardotii Umbelliferae / Apiaceae fruits Torilis japonica Umbelliferae / Apiaceae fruits Torilis leptophylla Umbelliferae / Apiaceae fruits Torilis nodosa Umbelliferae / Apiaceae fruits Torilis tenella Umbelliferae / Apiaceae fruits Torilis webbii Umbelliferae / Apiaceae fruits Tribulus bimucronatus Zygophyllaceae fruits Tribulus macropterus Zygophyllaceae fruits Tribulus mollis Zygophyllaceae fruits Tribulus pentandrus Zygophyllaceae fruits Tribulus terrestris Zygophyllaceae fruits Trichodesma africana Boraginaceae emergences Trichodesma ehrenbergii Boraginaceae emergences Trifolium scabrum Papilionaceae flowers Turgenia latifolia Umbelliferae / Apiaceae fruits Urtica kioviensis Urticaceae emergences Urtica membranacea Urticaceae emergences Urtica pilulifera Urticaceae emergences Urtica urens Urticaceae emergences Washingtonia filifera Palmae leaves Washingtonia robusta Palmae leaves Xanthium italicum Compositae / Asteraceae fruits Xanthium spinosum Compositae / Asteraceae fruits Xanthium strumarium Compositae / Asteraceae fruits Xeranthemum cylindraceum Compositae / Asteraceae leaves , bracts Zilla spinosa Cruciferae Brassicaceae stems Ziziphus lotus Rhamnaceae stipules Ziziphus nummularia Rhamnaceae stipules Ziziphys spina-christi Rhamnaceae stipules