of Europe generally, and by the Spaniards was, no doubt, 
along with the Cynaras or Artichokes, introduced to Buenos 
Ayres, where it perhaps constitutes a part of the forest of 
Thistles, which Capt. Heap has described in so lively a 
manner. The specimen here figured is from a plant ten 
feet high, which Mr. Macgay raised at the Dublin College 
Botanic Garden from seeds, sent in 1832, by Mr. T weenie, 
from Buenos Ayres: it flowered in the autumn, and con- 
tinued in perfection till the latter end of November. It is 
quite hardy, and is esteemed a biennial. 
Descr. Stem very tall, fistulose, deeply winged by the 
decurrent leaves, hoary, as is the whole plant, with lax to- 
mentum ; branches numerous, short, erect. Leaves ovato- 
lanceolate, a foot and more long, sinuated at the margins, 
wavy and spinous, reticulated, gradually smaller upwards 
and more lanceolate, their decurrent bases also spinous. 
Flowers terminal, and solitary upon the branches. Invo- 
lucrum almost conical, of numerous imbricated and appress- 
ed, rigid, spinous, ovato-lanceolate scales, of a greenish- 
purple colour, connected with a cobwebby substance. 
Florets numerous, very equal in height, spreading in the 
circumference, long and slender: the tube whitish ; the limb 
urple, erect. Anthers easily separating, linear, with a 
ong, slender appendage at the extremity. Style purple. 
Lacinie of the Stigmas combined. Germen obovato-ob- 
long, four-sided, smooth. Pappus of many, rather short, 
scabrous hairs, united at the base. Receptacle very cellular, 
the margins of the cells laciniated. 
Fig. 1. Cells of the Receptacle. 2. Floret. 3. Portion of the Style and 
Stigma. 4. Extremity of the Corolla, showing the tops of the anth é 
rounding the style :-—magnified. wns P ers, sur 
