he Carline thistle (Carlina vulgaris) produces stunning, brownish-golden flowers surrounded by straw-colored bracts. The distinctive flowers appear to be in decline when they are actually in full bloom. They grow well in dry, calcareous soils and are mainly found in England and Wales. As a monocarpic perennial, the plants only flower once, set seeds, and then die. But, while they are in bloom, the Carline thistle is a nectar source for a variety of insects, including the very rare Large Blue butterfly (Phengaris arion), which had become extinct in Britain, but was successfully reintroduced. {Photo taken in the United Kingdom by JungleDragon user, NattyOne} #JungleDragon #Carlinethistle #Carlinavulgaris
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I know 4 Carlina species from my region, but this one looks amazing! Posted 3 years ago
he Carline thistle (Carlina vulgaris) produces stunning, brownish-golden flowers surrounded by straw-colored bracts. The distinctive flowers appear to be in decline when they are actually in full bloom. They grow well in dry, calcareous soils and are mainly found in England and Wales. As a monocarpic perennial, the plants only flower once, set seeds, and then die. But, while they are in bloom, the Carline thistle is a nectar source for a variety of insects, including the very rare Large Blue butterfly (Phengaris arion), which had become extinct in Britain, but was successfully reintroduced. {Photo taken in the United Kingdom by JungleDragon user, NattyOne} #JungleDragon #Carlinethistle #Carlinavulgaris
https://www.facebook.com/jungledragonwildlife Posted 3 years ago