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Cnicus Afer. Barbary Cnicus, or 

 twin-thorned thistle. 



Class and Order. 

 Syngenesia Polygamia tEquaus. 



Generic Character. 



Cat. imbricatus, ventricosus ; squamis spinosis. Pappus 

 plumosus. Recept. viliosum. 



Specific Character and Synonyms. 



Cnicus afer ; foliis sessilibus lanceolatis subtus tomentosis 

 subrepandis : lobis emarginatis bispinosis, floribus pe- 

 dunculatis subcorymbosis,, calycinis squamis lanceo- 

 latis spinosis patentissimis. Willd. Sp, PL 3. p. 1683, 

 Hort, Kew. ed. alt. 4. p. 483. 



Carduus afer; foliis sessilibus lanceolatis pinnatifidis, lobis 

 distantibus gemellis in longam spinam terminatis singu- 

 lis, Jacq. Hort. Schoenb. 2. p. 80. t. 145. 



Carduus Diacantha ; foliis sessilibus lanceolatis subtus to- 

 mentosis,, spinis binatis, floribus corymbosis. Labill. 

 Ic. PL Syr. Dec. 2. p. 7. t. 3. Poiret. EncycL suppl. 

 2. p, 199. 



This is perhaps the handsomest species of all the Thistle 

 tribe, and is really worthy to be admitted into the flower- 

 garden. 



We see no reason to believe that the Carduus Diacantha 

 of Labillardiere and afer of Jacquin, are distinct species., 

 or even worthy to be recorded as separate varieties; the 

 first name has therefore the right of priority ; but Jacquin's 

 name of afer having been preferred by Willdenow and the 

 authors of the Hortus Kewensis may now be considered as 

 best established, on which account we have adopted it. 



The 



