294 comp6sit^ 



more or less pinnatifid, toothed, often prickly, the upper ones 

 clasping, with spreading sagittate auricles ; jruit ribbed and trans- 

 versely wrinkled. — Waste places, and as a weed in gardens ; 

 common. This plant is a favourite food for rabbits. — Fl. June — 

 August. Annual. 



2. 5. dsper (Rough Sow-thistle) has more spinously-toothed 

 leaves with rounded auricles, and ribbed, but not transversely 



s6nchus olerAceus {Common Sow-thistle, Milk-thistle). 



wrinkled, jruit. — It occurs under the same circumstances as the 

 preceding, and is almost as common. — Fl. June — August. 

 Annual. 



3. S. arvensis (Corn Sow-thistle). — Stem 2 — 4 feet high, tubular, 

 angular, usually unbranched below ; leaves variable, waved, 

 almost spinous, glaucous beneath, the lower ones runcinate, 

 heart-shaped at the base, the upper ones with rounded auricles ; 

 heads corymbose, large ; involucre and peduncles hairy with glan- 

 dular hairs. — In similar situations with the last, from which it 



