COMPOS ITiE. 37 



SPECIES VI —C ENTAUREA CALCITRAPA. Lhm. 



Plate DCCXI. 



Reich. Ic. Fl. Germ, et Helv. Vol. XV. Tab. DCCXCVIII. Fig. 1. 

 Hillot, Fl. Gall, et Germ. Exsicc. No. 1902. 



Biennial. Stem not winged, branched, with divaricate branches, 

 lladical- and lower stem-leaves pinnatipartite ; uppermost leaves 

 dentate or entire. Anthodes subsessile, pseudo-lateral and ter- 

 minal. Pericline ovate-cylindrical, glabrous ; appendages termi- 

 nating in a stout spine, longer than the pericline, channelled on 

 the upper side at the base, and with 2 or 3 short spines near its 

 base on each side. Florets pale purplish-rose, those of the ray 

 not longer than the fertile ones. Pappus none. 



In waste places and by roadsides. Rare, and chiefly found 

 in the South-east of England, though it has also occurred in 

 Cornwall, Devon, and Somerset. Its Northern limits seem to be 

 Norfolk, Cambridge, and South-east Wales. 



England. Biennial. Late Summer and Autumn. 



Radical leaves very deeply pinnatifid, with the segments distant, 

 entire or toothed. Stem at first erect, terminating in an an- 

 tliode, immediately beneath which a proliferous branch is given off, 

 Avhich again terminates in a flower-head, and the same process 

 being repeated, late in the season the anthodes appear lateral ; 

 these branches are decumbent, and the ultimate ones have the 

 leaves much narrower and scarcely at all pinnatifid, sometimes 

 even entire. Anthodes, exclusive of the spines, f inch across ; ter- 

 minal spine of the appendage ^ to 1 inch long, the lateral spines very 

 much shorter, 1 to 5 on each side. Achenes small, whitish marbled 

 with brown, or entirely white, usually without pappus. Plant 

 dull-green, at first pubescent, at length nearly glabrous. 



Star-thistle. 



French, Caitauree Chaiisse Trappe. German, Distelartuje Flockenblume. 



The specific name of this species is due to the resemblance of the calyx to the 

 caUrojis, or iron ball covered with spikes, formerly used for throwing under the horses' 

 feet to lame them on a field of battle. It is a troublesome weed to agriculturists in 

 certain districts, and only to be eradicated by breaking up the ground so infested. 



