flowerishness: Thistles (probably Canada thistle - Cirsium arvense) ‘Thistle&rs
flowerishness: Thistles (probably Canada thistle - Cirsium arvense) ‘Thistle’ is the common name for plants in 16 genera whose flowers conform to this general shape. Farmers world-wide hate them because they invade pastureland and herbivores won’t eat them because of their prickles. A number of species merit condemnation on the Invasive Species Council of British Columbia’s website. Most thistles look very much the same and thereby hangs a tale.The Scotch thistle (Onopordum acanthium) is the national emblem of Scotland. According to legend, in the eight century a Norse raiding party was approaching a Scottish garrison when a bare-footed Viking stepped on a Scotch thistle and his cry of pain alerted the Scots and saved the day. The Scottish king, Alexander lll (1249 - 1286), declared the Scotch thistle the official emblem and it later acquired the motto, nemo me impune lacessit (’no one will provoke me with impunity’). I like this, they remind me of sea urchins. -- source link