GAMOPETALZ 145 
The root is long and deep-rooting. The stem is 
thick, tall, erect, simple, with large, decurrent, hispid, 
pinnatifid leaves, which are spinous and hairy above, 
the segments bilobed, spreading, armed with spines, 
white and cottony underneath. The segments end 
in long spines. 
The handsome flowerhead is purple, large, with a 
powdery whitish pollen often lying on the surface. 
The ovate involucre is tomentose, the phyllaries 
spreading, lanceolate. The heads are few, in fascicles, 
erect. The involucral bracts are numerous, subulate, 
and there is a strong midrib and long spines. 
Spear Thistle is often 3 to 4 ft. high. It flowers 
from June to September. 
The flowers are as in the Creeping Thistle but the 
honey is not so easily reached. The florets have 
narrow tubes; the throat in which the honey collects 
is rather long. 
Only long-tongued humble bees can reach the 
honey, and Honey Bees, flies, and some butterflies. 
The achenes are provided with a feathery pappus 
and are adapted to dispersal by the wind. 
Spear Thistle is also called Bow Thistle, Bur, 
Cheese, Dashel, Marian, Quat Vessel, Thistle, Bank, 
Bellm Bird, Blue, Boar, Buck, Bull, Bur, Hors, 
Scotch Thistle. It is called Bow Thistle because 
_ goldfinches feed on it, hanging on below the head to 
peck at the seeds, bowing the head down. The name 
Boar Thistle refers to the prickly spines. Children 
are in the habit of blowing the pappus and saying: 
10 
