Casabona Thistle
The Casabona Thistle (Ptilostemon casabonae) is a little-known flowering biennial plant in the Asteraceae family. It is also known as the Fishbone Thistle or Herringbone Thistle.
It is endemic to southern France and Italy, Corsica, and Sardinia.
The low-growing plant is 40-70 centimetres (16-27 inches) tall.
It has long, simple, spreading leaves that are green and shiny on top, and whitish or reddish underneath. They grow to about 18 centimetres (7 inches) long.
The leaves are bordered by strong, stiff spines about 2-5 centimetres (1-2 inches) long.
The flower heads are clustered with dark grey to purple-black flowers.
The Casabona Thistle blooms from June to August in the Northern Hemisphere.
Photographed at the Paris Botanical Garden, France, February 2023.
Photographer: Martina Nicolls
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