I just love 'salsify' I first saw this species fourteen months ago and promptly fell in love with it. I hadn't been able to find out the name of this beautiful plant. I discovered it growing along the side of the road in Picton NSW Australia, and over a year didn't discover it anywhere else I had been. I visited Western Australia, Queensland, Tasmania, Victoria and of course NSW but never found it any where else. I asked so many people the name of this plant but no one knew what it was. I sprayed the dandelion sphere with water drops and photographed it from many angles. I photographed parts of it and all of it. I even photographed my hand around it to show the size, but still no one knew what it was. It was about three months ago I discovered that it had such a beautiful purple flower. I photographed the flower from many angles, I sprayed it with water, took macro's, entered them in photo contests and still could not find out the name. I made it into christmas cards and made everyone I came into contact with love it as much as I do. Now thanks to your site I have finally found out the name. Thanks so much as it has fascinated me for so long, cheers- Valerie x