Thistles

[cohan]

Lots of great spiny plants!

I hadn't got all the way through when I posted this (still haven't had a chance to follow the links)- I love them all! Cliff's Turkish spp are really amazing! The only similar thing I have so far is one Saussurea -cf leontodontoides which has wooly-not spiny- leaves not so different from some of the Centaurea, no flowers yet this year; ( I have other Sauss, but nothing thistly about them)

Here's one from my late August trip into the mountains-- this was a good sized plant, though I didn't measure- I think it was at least 40cm, a rather large plant for that site not too far below timberline; clearly no sign of flower colour, though traces of dried flowers seem darkish, maybe that indicates purple flowers?
It was a short stop so I didn't think as carefully as I might have about getting the right characters photographed for id, and did not get the phyllaries or other involucral characters.. hopefully the leaves may be enough for a tentative id- I haven't searched yet.. Lori's hookerianum does look similar??

This was on a gravel bank by the roadside between to viewpoints; as seen in the first pic; previously I have not seen much growing there apart from some prostrate Asters (didn't see them this time, but I didn't have time to walk all the way along the bank to the next stop..)

[cohan]

I am growing a few small thistles, Centauria drabifolia and C. achtarovii. The former has spread to about 12 inches and now has multiple flowers, while the latter grows about 4 inches tall and spreads about 6 inches or so. It throws up one bloom, which is followed by a period of dormancy, and then another bloom later in the season. Both are hardy here in Massachusetts, and both are quite beautiful if sited properly so they can be seen easily.

So far (3 years) neither has produced viable seed, but given this summer's weather (HOT) and their Turkish origins, I'm hopeful that their more prolific blooms this year will get me some seeds that will germinate.

oh wow-C achtarovii just moved high on my wishlist!!