When you think of spiky flowers, the first thing that comes to mind is the rose. However, many plants have needles or spines, and many of them are great additions to gardens, borders, and other landscaping projects. From a biological point of view, thorns are a defense mechanism for plants. Well-known examples include aloe and thistle.
Bougainvillea (Nyctaginaceae)
First in the top is a fast growing shrub vine that can grow up to 12 meters in length. Widely grown in India, it is popular for its attractive and vibrant coloration. It has been successfully grown outdoors in very sheltered areas of the UK. Currently cultivated in warm climates around the world.
Bougainvillea requires sufficient water and fertile soil. The long spiny flower uses stems to support itself on nearby plants or structures. The color palette is very diverse, and large petals are actually large, thinbracts that surround tiny white flowers.
Argemon (poppy)
A branched, pale blue-green leafy plant with white flowers, yellow sap and fine spines throughout. Argema in Greek means cataract of the eye, for which the plants of this genus were supposedly a remedy. There are several species in the West, all similar, some with yellow, pinkish or lavender petals. The leaves of the thorny flower are so unpleasant that even cattle avoid it.
All parts of plants are poisonous (including seeds) if ingested. The spines contain a substance that irritates the skin. Sensitivity to the toxin depends on the age, weight, physical condition and individual susceptibility of the person. Children are the most vulnerable. Toxicity can vary by season, different parts of the plant, and stage of growth. Also, the flower can absorb toxic substances such as herbicides, pesticides and other pollutants from water, air and soil.
Mountain Thistle (Cirsium scopulorum)
There are dozens of different thistles. Some of them reproduce from rhizomes, others - once every two years by seeds. All prickly and with disc-shaped flowers. The genus Cirsium (Greek for "dilated vein") was named by Philip Miller (1691-1771) because of the long-gone belief that thistle distillate would open clogged veins.
This spiny flower was first named Cirsium eriocephalum by Asya Gray in 1864. Then EdwardGreen in 1893 and 1911 named it Carduus eriocephalum. Cockerell named the plant C. scopulorum. Scopulorum means "rocky places" - a very appropriate name for this species.
Porcupine tomato (Solanum)
It's hard to find a more aggressive-looking combination of leaves and stems than Solanum, aka the devil's thorn, a hardy shrub that can grow up to 1.5 meters. Some species contain a toxic alkaloid that, if ingested, can cause serious illness and even death.
Solanum is a genus of the tomato family, and the thorny flower bears many distinct similarities to our familiar tomatoes. A native of Madagascar, he likes lighted places or partial shade, but always with well-drained soil. In the wild, the plant reproduces very slowly, because birds avoid berries, so the seeds are not distributed.
Milius Euphorbia or Crown of Thorns
Christ's plant (or Mil's spurge) is a sprawling evergreen shrub with succulent branches covered in long sharp black thorns and sparse foliage. This spiny flower is native to Madagascar.
The name of the species is commemorated by Baron Milius, who introduced the species to France in 1821. The climbing shrub can reach 1.8 meters in height, and the narrow spines help it climb over other plants. The flowers are small, in the form of a pair of noticeable petal-shaped bracts of various (red, pink or white) colors up to 12 mm wide.
