Close-ups of Maltese Nature (3)

The clustered carline thistle, or sajtun in Maltese, is frequently found in abandoned fields and areas of garrigue and steppe.

This plant grows as a shrub with a reddish stem, usually reaching 30-60cm in height. Its leaves are almost 10cm long and 3cm wide. As can be seen in the (picture, right), they are oblong, lance-like and have spiny edges. Flowers appear during the summer months. Its golden-yellow flower heads are clustered together to form what is known as a corymb. This is a cluster of flowers, an inflorescence, with a flat or convex top. The modified leaves below this inflorescence, the involucral bracts, are conspicuous, long and yellow in colour.

The scientific name of this thistle is Carlina involucrata. The name Carlina is thought to have been given by Charlemagne (King/Emperor), who is supposed to have used the roots of this plant against the plague. However, in other accounts it is assumed that the name derives from the word "cardina" which means little thistle. On the other hand, "involucre" refers to the bracts, which form a cup around the base of the flower's head.

Should you require more information, please contact nature.requests@mepa.org.mt.

The United Nations declared 2010 to be the International Year of Biodiversity. Malta together with many other countries around the globe is carrying out a number of initiatives to celebrate life on earth and the value of biodiversity for our lives. We are all invited to take action in 2010 to safeguard the variety of life on earth: biodiversity.