Spear thistle (Cirsium vulgare), also called bull thistle, or common thistle, is a species of thistle. It is considered a noxious weed in much of the world, but in Iran, where it is called kangar, a traditional stew called khoresh kangar makes use of the tender spring shoots.
The closest cultivated species to spear thistle is the cardoon, which is not in the same genus, but can be prepared in a similar style.