News Plants

On hot summer days, this thistle is somehow cool to the touch

The flowers of this yellow thistle stay cool even as the air scorches around them

image of yellow thistle flower head

In southern Spain, summer heat can make life tough for a plant. The thistle Carlina corymbosa beats the heat by somehow cooling down its flowers to well below air temperature.

Carlos Herrera

By Darren Incorvaia

- More than 2 years ago

Read another version of this article at Science News Explores

In the mountains of southern Spain, one type of thistle plant seems to have built-in air conditioning.