Your Author supposes this is a mirror to the albino version; where that lacks any lilac or reddish-purple coloration on inflorescence or phyllaries, this example seems to have a double-dose.

But not only that, the leaves are much longer and wider and seem not to be so shiny, but rather have a matte finish suggestive of being covered in very short fine hairs appressed to the surface. And, despite Clive Stace specifying that Creeping Thistle lacks wings going down the stem this specimen does have a (short) wing (half-way down on the left, just at the start of the rock). Marsh Thistle also has winged stems. (However, another reliable source tells me that even Creeping Thistle can have some winging on the stems). And, to cap it all, this was a lone example; it was not spreading as its name suggests it should...

However, Marsh Thistle has a very crowded and compact top with many inflorescences crowded together, whereas this exhibit has the normal few and separated florets of Creeping Thistle (and is not intermediate between Creeping and Marsh Thistles). Apart from the large size increase, the leaves are also a similar shape, if not as shiny.

So, the consensus is that this particular specimen is not a hybrid, but rather just Creeping Thistle, albeit, a very unusual one suffused with red in parts that are normally devoid of red, which is just one of the characteristics of the real hybrid between the two - the other identifying characteristics being absent. The real hybrid is also very rare).

Pseudomonas syringae infection has been confirmed in the Isle of Wight, which is where these photos were taken. It has also been found in several other places such as near the coasts of Sussex, Anglesea and Pembrokeshire). It seems to have a preference for coasts. But no one knows how the bacteria arrived in the UK, although your Author can think of many ways in which it could have arrived here. It has been found in several locations in Canada. The symptoms are visibly very characteristic of the disease and it can be readily observed in Creeping Thistle from some distance.

On another occasion and on other specimens, an infected Creeping Thistle was found to be caused by a differing organism, that of Phoma macrostoma (which is not a bacterium as is Pseudomonas syringae) but rather a soil fungus aka a rust. It is therefore a bit of a surprise that both exhibit exactly the same visible results. And both are being studied as potential 'green' biological control agents for Creeping Thistle, particularly in farmers fields where it creeps by means of underground runners, thereby invading fields. Phoma macrostoma kills Creeping Thistle by infecting the root system and then releasing a phytotoxin produced in the plant. This organism is not specific to Creeping Thistle, and infects many dicotyledons, such as Clovers, Lentils, and other broad-leaf plants, but monocots are very resistant. In light of this, your Author thinks Phoma macrostoma is not nearly as selective as is Pseudomonas syringae and that they would be better off not promoting this organism as a control agent for Creeping Thistle (or any other dicot).

But the Creeping Thistles above were found in the Isle of Wight and thus have Pseudomonas syringae.