596 Mr. T. Smith on certain Species of Carduus and Cnicus 



ing, it may prove a safe and successful means of diminishing the 

 quantity of this troublesome weed. 



I have examined several others of our native species of Car- 

 duus and Cnicus in their wild state, and have found female plants 

 in Cnicus palustris, pratensis, and acaulis. In Carduus nutans, 

 acanthoides, and tenuiflorus, and in Cnicus lanceolatus I met with 

 no deviation from the usual structure. Carduus marianus, which 

 I saw in a garden only, was hermaphrodite, as was Cnicus erio- 

 phorus in the same place. Cnicus tuberosus and heterophyllus, 

 which I have also only seen cultivated, were both female plants ; 

 and the figure of the latter, given by Professor Hooker in the 

 Flora Londinensis, is manifestly a female. In the Herbariums 

 specimens of both species occur with perfect antherae. 



Of Carduus nutans, acanthoides, and tenuiflorus, which I have 

 mentioned as having hermaphrodite flowers only, it should be 

 noticed that I have seen very few of the first ; of the other two 

 indeed a considerable number, but all growing in one spot. 

 Cnicus lanceolatus is everywhere too obvious to leave any doubt 

 respecting it. 



Cnicus palustris. Having examined a considerable number of 

 specimens, the female plants I find are not numerous, and bear 

 but a small proportion to the antheriferous. The difference in 

 external appearance between the female and the antheriferous 

 flowers is not so great or obvious as in some other species ; the 

 florets are of the same size, but the antheriferous ones expand 

 more, and the anthers project far beyond the laciniae of the co- 

 rolla ; the style is at this period much longer than it ever is in 

 the female ; this is distinguished by the small abortive antherae, 

 which not rising beyond the little expanded laciniae of the co- 

 rolla, are scarcely seen, while the projecting styles have their 

 stigmata more developed and a little waved. 



Cnicus pratensis I have seen in abundance only in one situation 



on 



