The Latin name of the thistle is 'Cirsium arvense' and it was selected as a symbol of Scottish defence during the 15th century. Thereafter, it was popularly mistaken as their official flower. In Fife, Scotland, thistles are considered to be a prized delicacy. Except the leaves, which are bitter in taste, almost all parts of the thistle are edible and taproot of the plant is supposed to be especially rich in nutrients.

The thistle is a tall perennial herb with lobed, spiny leaves and erect stems and it is pollinated by butterflies and bees. Thistles grow abundantly throughout Europe, Asia and Northern Africa. However, in countries like Brazil, Canada and the United States it is known as an ‘injurious weed’ because it is supposed to contaminate grains and other types of food. Even so, the unusual beauty of the flower has endeared the thistle as a popular flower. Its pink-purple flowers are particularly popular whereas flowers from other genus are also well-liked, for example, the California thistle, Canada thistle, the corn or the creeping thistle, the cursed thistle, the hard thistle, the perennial thistle and the small-flowered thistle.