COMPOSITE FAMILY 



Cirsium: for derivation, see arvense. 

 Lanceolatum: Latin for lance-shaped. 



THE PREFERRED HABITAT: dry, sandy soil, particularly 

 of the Commons. 



THE PLANT: erect, branched, three feet to four feet high; the 

 stem stout, leafy to the flower heads, grooved, clothed 

 with matted hairs. 



THE LEAVES: alternate; dark green; three inches to six 

 inches long, or the lowest larger; lanceolate; the upper 

 surface with short somewhat soft or roughish hairs; the 

 lower with brown, matted wool; acuminate at the apex; 

 sessile, continued down the stem and branches; deeply cut, 

 the lobes triangular-lanceolate, tipped with stout prickles; 

 the margins and bases prickly, and mid- vein hairy, es- 

 pecially when young. 



THE FLOWER HEADS: mostly solitary at the ends of the 

 branches, one and one half inches to two inches broad, 

 one and one half inches to two inches high; bracts of the 

 involucre cottony, narrowly lanceolate, tipped with slender 

 prickles. 



THE FRUIT: achenes; pappus consists of bristles. 



The monarch of the fields is this dignified plant that 

 holds stiffly its numerous dark green spiny leaves at right 

 angles to the stem and carries erect the large solitary 

 handsome head of magenta flowers neatly ragged above 

 (if such a paradox is permissible), and well-armoured below 

 by dark and spiny bracts. The "off-islanders" consider 

 the plant in its fresh condition very effective for bouquets; 

 the Nantucket people prefer to make puff-balls from it for 

 winter decoration. 



27 



