Photos: The Burren, Co.Clare

Carline Thistle Carlina vulgaris Feochadán mín Family: Asteraceae Flowering time: July-Septeber. Biennial. Native. Rayless flowerheads, golden/purplish tubular florets surrounded by prominent yellowish bracts. Solitary or in groups of 2-5. Leaf rosette in 1st year (below), withers before the 2nd season flowering. Stem leaves alternate, spiny margins, cottony below. Height: 10-60cm. Dry infertile calcareous grassland. Dunes, rock ledges, un-stable sea-cliffs. Most frequent central and W Ireland.

    
Photographs above: Carline Thistle. The Burren, Co.Clare. August 2007