Cirsium rivulare 'Atropurpureum'

Cirsium rivulare (Jacq.)All. Asteraceae 'Atropurpureum' . Plume thistle. Distribution: Central and SW Europe. The 16th and 17th century herbals call Cirsium 'thistles' without separating them as we do now into different genera - and attribute no use to them. A currently popular garden plant. Photographed in the Medicinal Garden of the Royal College of Physicians, London.