Scottish Thistle

The safflower plant as we know it resembles the Scottish thistle but has yellow, orange, or red florets rather than the purple bloom of the thistle. However, the commercial species of safflower, C. tinctorius, does not become a weed. The plant grows to a height of 30-150 cm, develops many branches (unless affected by natural or artificial environmental conditions), and develops a thickened taproot that can extend down to 4 m. 

The Stuarts followed the trend with their own rose, divided into two halves, with the thistle of Scotland added. The Stuarts issued many alchemical licenses and it is hardly surprising that they chose the spiny purple Scottish Thistle as their alchemical image of the Philosophers Stone. Queen Anne s personal badge was also a rose and thistle, in this case growing from the same stalk. 

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