THISTLE FAMILY 703 
Outer bracts of the real involucre often in form of spreading spines. 
Naturalized in some places. June-Oct. 
54. CNICUS, L. 
A thistle-like herb with alternate lance-shaped, lobed leaves with prickly 
margins and with large heads of yellow tubular flowers, the heads soli- 
tary and without stem. Receptacle flat, bristly. Aigrette of 2 rows of 
bristles. 
C. benedictus, L. (Fig. 5, pl. 199.) BLessep Tuisttr. Much 
branched, stem hairy, 14 to 23 ft. high. Leaves lobed and with prickly 
margins, 3 to 6 in. long. Heads 2 in. broad, subtended by an involucre- 
like cluster of spiny leaves. Flowers yellow. Introduced. May-Aug. 
