A small genus of 3, from the northern and western areas of the Mediterranean. Tall, thistle-like flowers on spiny foliage, which is often attractively marbled.
The numerous small flowers that make up the flowerheads of galactites are outstandingly attractive to all manner of pollinating insects especially honeybees, bumblebees, hoverflies, ladybirds and butterflies. The plants gently self seed around into bare, dry patches and germinate to a summer long resource for wildlife, as the seeds are also eaten by goldfinches.