MILK THISTLE 



199 



seed, or dispersed in the same way as weeds, such as .Mallow, 'iansy, 

 Wormwood, Chicory, Borage, Mullein, and other casuals. 



The stems arc thick at the base, branched, rather tall, wiih cottony 

 down, ribbed, furrowed, and leatless above. The radical leaves are 

 spreading and prostrate, tripinnate, sinuate, shining, with spinose 

 margin, and witli white, net-like veins, the stem-leaves clasping the stem. 



The tlowerheads, which are large and solitary, are purple and 

 globose. The phyllaries are leaf- 

 like below, closely associated, 

 then spreading and bent back, 

 spinous at the margin, leathery, 

 broad, and with one long ter- 

 minal spine. The receptacle is 

 fleshy and hairy. The fruit is 

 oblong, transversely wrinkled, 

 black, with white pappus, grow- 

 ing oblicjuely. The seeds con- 

 tain oil for emulsion and are 

 used as bird-seed. 



The plant grows to a height 

 of 5 ft. The flowers open in 

 July. Like Cotton Thistle it is 

 a herbaceous triennial, and may 

 be reproduced by seed. It is 

 worth cultivating. 



I he flowers contain honey, 

 and the tube is long and slender 

 but enlarged above. The flower- 

 head is like Carcitiiis, rather large, 

 rose-colour, with anther-stalks 

 united into a sheath. Being of casua 

 the number of visitors are wanting. 



The achenes are large and proviileil 

 them to be dispersed by aid of the wind. 



Milk Thistle is more or le.ss a .sand-loving plant or addicted to a 

 .sand soil or sand loam. 



Si7yl>!iJi!, Dioscorides, is the (jreek name for an edible thistle; 

 inariauiis, Linnaeus, is from the X'irgin Mary, and refers to a legend 

 that drops of her milk fell on the; leaves and caused the spotting. Milk 

 Thistle is a common name tor it, in allusion to the markings (white 

 veins or spots) of the leaves anel the milky juice. From its numerous 



i A. K. llor»oM,l 



-Milk Thistle (SHvIhiin nutruiiuan) 



occurrence, observations on 

 with a pappus, which enables 



