THIS'LL BE A THISTLE

The Scotch or Spear Thistle is the emblem of Scotland with its big, prickly heads of flowers. 

Here you can see how the flowers go brown and then explode into puffs of thistledown to float off in the wind and spread the seeds around.  Goldfinches love the seeds if they get to the plant before the seeds have blown away.

The creeping thistle (see below) doesn't just spread by seed but, as its name suggests, has long creeping  roots which can quickly invade pastures and meadows.   The leaves are quite different from the spear thistle and the flower heads are not spiny.   The flowers are a paler pink but more fragrant. 

 

 As well as the black aphids, which you can see on the stems, the flowers attract butterflies and especially the Painted Lady which lays its eggs on the leaves and is one of the best controllers of this invasive plant.

Photo: Alan Watts

Painted ladies also lay eggs on mallow.