Will Watson / Carline thistle (Carlina vulgaris) seedheads, Titterstone Clee Hill, Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, England, UK. October 2018.

Nick Upton / Carline thistle (Carlina vulgaris) flower top view, chalk grassland slope, Wiltshire, UK, July.

Nick Upton / Carline thistle (Carlina vulgaris) flower top view, chalk grassland slope, Wiltshire, UK, July.

Martin Gabriel / Carline thistle (Carlina vulgaris) flower, Bavaria, Germany

Paul Harcourt Davies / Common Carline Thistle (Carlina vulgaris) in flower,, Mount Terminillo, near Terni, Italy. September.

Paul Harcourt Davies / Common Carline Thistle (Carlina vulgaris) dried flower head, Italy, September.

Paul Harcourt Davies / Common Carline Thistle (Carlina vulgaris) in flower, Mount Terminillo, near Terni, Italy. September.

Martin Gabriel / Carline thistle (Carlina vulgaris), flower, Bavaria, Germany, August

Florian Möllers / Carline Thistle (Carlina vulgaris), flower and bud, Berlin, Germany.

Paul Hobson / Carline Thistle (Carlina vulgaris) flower heads, Derbyshire, UK, Europe

Dietmar Nill / Carline thistle (Carlina vulgaris). Germany, Europe

Linda Pitkin / Dead Carline thistle (Carlina vulgaris) flower heads, Surrey, England. September.