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

Nick Upton / Chalkhill blue butterfly (Polyommatus coridon) nectaring on a Clustered carline thistle (Carlina corymbosa) flower, Picos de Europa mountains, Spain, August.

Nick Upton / Clustered carline thistle (Carlina corymbosa) flowering, Crete, Greece, July.

Nick Upton / Clustered carline thistle (Carlina corymbosa) flowering, Crete, Greece, July.

Nick Upton / Clustered carline thistle (Carlina corymbosa) flowering, Monchique mountains, Algarve, Portugal, August 2013.

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