Seasonal Wild Flowers

Latin name

Cirsium helenioides

Family

Asteraceae

Flowering season

June to August

English distribution

It is found predominantly in the hills of the Lake District,

the Pennines and the Peak District.

For a map see the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland

– Melancholy Thistle

Habitat

It grows in upland hay meadows, roadside verges and by streams.

It may be in decline due to loss of habitat.

Description

Melancholy Thistle is a native, stoloniferous herb growing up

to 1.2m.

Flowerheads are on grooved, cottony, un-winged stems, usually

solitary and up to 3.5cm across.

Florets are red-purple and the pappus is white.

The bracts are lanceolate and edged with purple.

The basal leaves are elliptic-lanceolate, toothed, stalked and

up to 40cm.

Stem leaves are smaller and variously clasp the stem.

The upper surfaces of the leaves are green and the lower surfaces,

white.