The vernacular thistle is recognize to botanists as onopordum acanthium and to everyone else as the Scotch thistle or Scotch thistle . A relation of the sunflower family , the Scotch thistle achieved fame and standing as the national allegory of Scotland . More than 200 types of thistle exist , many viewed less gloriously than the common thistle in Scotland .
What Is Thistle?
The cotton thistle is a large flora , up to three metre improbable and about half that in width . A biennial plant , its spiny leafage are 10 to 50 cm wide , covered with blank fuzz that give the plant life the plebeian name " cotton thistle . " They have long , loaded spines the length of the margin . The flowers are orotund and range in colouration from pink to lavender . The thistle flowers from July to September .
History of Scottish Thistle
The thistle is renowned in Scotland where it is not only the country ’s internal allegory but also the base of Scotland ’s ancient order of chivalry known as " The Order of the Thistle . " Oral custom attributes this to a war between the Scottish and the Vikings of Denmark . When the Vikings attempted to surprise the Scots at night , one of them purportedly pose a bare foot on a thistle , causing him to squall out in pain in the neck and alerting the Scots to the Viking presence .
Application of Thistle as Scottish Icon
After this Viking episode , the thistle became known as the " Guardian Thistle " and , under James III , it became the badge of the Stuarts . Today it is the insignia of the Scottish safety and has been used on coin , note , stamps and broadswords . It even decorates the grave of Mary , Queen of Scots .
Meaning of Scottish Thistle
Given the legend surrounding the Scottish thistle , the industrial plant clearly predicate courageousness , courageousness , and commitment in the face of treachery . The hard , painful spikes of the works itself evoke survival and fortitude . Thistle ’s vivacious pink or purplish color represents royalty and nobility , as well as the grandeur of part . As plant life expert Arthur Lee Jacobson say about another thistle , " Though we can not stupefy , nor like , nor use the damn matter , we must at least prize it as a formidable enemy . "
Other Thistles
Other member of the thistle family are treated less magnificently . The Canadian thistle is call ruthlessly belligerent due to its horizontal root system . Some plant writers have termed it a " viciously ugly mean roughneck " that uprise almost anywhere , chokin - art.html'>chokingout other , more utilitarian plants . The bull’s eye thistle and bless Milk River thistle are both considered pests by Oregon phytologist . According to Dr. James Altland of Oregon State University , " These plants are peril in visual aspect , some are painful to the touch , and a menace to anyone responsible for their controller . "
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