io8 II.OWFRS Ol- r..\KF>, RHTRS, FTC. 



The; stem is winticcl wiih iiucrrupirtl, spinuLis. rudinienlary ]ea\'es, 

 which serve to protect il. 



The llowerheacls are violet in an ew-shaped involucre, with cgi^- 

 shaped to lance-shaped phyllaries, which terminate in a point and overlap. 

 The llorets are tufted and clustered, and rather small, and the involucre 

 is sliuhily webbed. The linil) of the corolla is 5-lobed to the middle. 



This graceful plant may be 3 ft. high. It is rarely in flower before 

 Jul}. liiennial, it is herbaceous and propagated by seeds. 



Marsh Thistle has a capitnluni iiucrmediate between C. aiTCJisis 

 and C. /aiicco/a/us, in so tar as it is possible to reach tlie hnncw and in 

 the variety of \isilors. 'i'hc throat of the corolla is 2^> nun. The 

 florets are tul)ular and complete. 



It is \isited b\- A/'is iiicl/ifica, Bouibiis, Andiciia, llaluiiis, Mcga- 

 cliilc, Lhidciiiiis. liristalis, Volitcc/Ia, Syr/>/i/is, Siciis, P/iris. Hespcna, 

 Sa/vnis, P/iisia, Agrotis, Slrangalia. 



The achene is narrow, and prc^vided with a ti-athery [)appus for 

 wind dispersal. 



This fine composite is a peatdoviiig plant. re(iiiiring a humus soil, 

 and growing in peaty bogs, &c. 



Two fungi, Piiccinia hicracii, P. dioico', infest it. Two beetles, 

 Psylliodcs picina, Lariiius ca>-iiii(C, a moth, Colcophora ihcrinclla. are 

 to be found upon it. 



The second Latin name refers to its habitat. It is called Bog- 

 thrissel, Moss-thistle, Red and Water Thistle. It was .said to counter- 

 act the powers of darkness, and in Esthonia they place it in riix-ning 

 corn to drive away malignant demons. Elf lock, a disease in Poland 

 amongst the poor, said to be due to evil spirits, disappears when one 

 buries thistle seeds. If thistles are seen in a dream it is a good omen. 

 " If the down flieth off Coltsfoot, Dandelion, and thistles when there is 

 no wind it is a sign of rain ", and •' Chaff, leaves, thistle down, or such 

 light things whisking about and twining round foreshows tempestuous 

 winds". In .Suffolk — 



" Cut _\-(nir tliistlcs before St. Joliii, 

 VdLi will have two instead of one". 



The tender stalks, if peeled, are eatable when boiled. 

 ESSENTI.\L SpF.CIFIC Cn.\R.\CTF,RS : 



171. Ciiicits paliistris, W'illd. — .Stem tall, erect, purple, hollow, 

 branched above, spinose, winged, leaves not hairy above, decurrent, 

 thorny, brownish, tlowerheads purple, small, terminal heads in a cluster, 

 bracts pur[)lish-green, ovate-lanceolate, corolla limb 5-ful to mltldle. 



