Bull Thistle/Common Thistle (Cirsium vulgare) Alaska (Aug., 2005)
this has the leafy wings with spines
see: https://gobotany.newenglandwild.org/species/cirsium/vulgare/?pile=composites
-not Field Thistle (Cirsium discolor) - Field Thistle has white stripes on bracts
-not Canada Thistle (Cirsium arvense)
canada thistle bracts seem to be missing the extra long leafy bracts with spines
see picture here:
http://www.colostate.edu/Dept/CoopExt/Adams/weed/canada_thistle_id.html