What are these plants?

I screeched the car to a halt when I saw these plants - triffid-like - growing by the side of a small country road, after going for a run.  The insects were having a field day. The extras show the plant in a different stage of flowering, and the triffid-like growth.  Never noticed this plant before.

Taken with my old iphone 4S, which actually takes better close up shots than the lens I have on my camera.

Update: a little research has identified these as Globe Thistles.