Seasonal Wild Flowers

Carline Thistle

Carlina vulgaris

Asteraceae

July to September

It is scattered and patchy throughout the country.

See the BSBI distribution map for Carline Thistle

It grows on grassland on lime, quarries, coastal cliffs and

sand dunes.

Carline Thistle is a native, stiff, perennial herb, growing up

to 60cm.

Flowerheads are up to 4cm.

Outer bracts are leaf-like with long green or purple bristles.

Inner bracts are straw coloured and spread out like rays in

dry weather. They close over the flowerhead in the wet.

Florets are tubes and a mixture of yellow and purple.

Dead flowerheads look similar to live ones and persist

through the winter.

Stems are branched and tinged with purple.

Leaves are spiked and the lower rosette may shrivel

before flowering occurs.

Carline Thistle, West Cliff,

West Bay, Dorset

Stage 1 Un-open flowerhead

Stage 2 Opening flowerhead

Stage 4 Opening flowerhead

Stage 5 Open flowerhead

Stage 6 Open flowerhead

Stage 7 Flowerhead closed in wet weather

Stage 8 Flowerheads in winter

Side view of flowerhead

Upper leaves

Lower leaves