Musk Thistle

Often called the nodding thistle, which seems a good description as the flowers do indeed bend over in a most characteristic way, as if nodding their heads. It’s not common along riverbanks, but occasionally shows up on gravel bars, amongst other thistles; which tend to be early colonisers of open ground. It isn’t a common thistle, but there are patches where it is abundant; as below Whitcliffe edge. a lovely plant, with showier flowers than any other local thistle. I wish it were more common.