
By Thomas Bruges Flower, Esq. 199 
Carpuvus, (Linn.) THISTLE. 
Linn. Cl. xix. Ord. i. 
Name. From the Celtic and Gaelic card; a card for combing 
wool, for which the involucre of some of the species may have been 
employed ; and this again from ard, in Celtic, a point; whence 
also ardos, in Greek, arduus, ardeo, &c., in Latin. 
1. C. nutans, (Linn.) nodding Thistle, in allusion to the droop- 
ing head of the plant. It is called also the Musk Thistle, in refer- 
ence to the powerful musk-like smell which it exhales in hot 
weather towards evening. Zngl. Bot. ¢. 1112. 
Locality. In dry waste ground, rough barren fields, pastures 
and fallows ; plentiful in calcareous soils, abundant on the sides of 
our high downs, and in chalk pits. B. Fl. May, August. Area, 
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 
In ail the Districts. Flowers large and handsome, drooping, of a 
crimson or purplish colour, sometimes white, with a sweet musky 
scent at all times of the day in warm weather. This species is 
distinguished from other British Thistles by the nodding or droop- 
ing corolla. 
2. C. crispus, (Linn.) welted Thistle, in allusion to the welt or 
edging, which runs throughout the plant. Engi. Bot. ¢. 973. 
Locality. In hedge-banks, borders cf fields, and by road-sides. 
B. Fl. July, August. Area, 1.2. 3. 4. 5. 
Generally distributed in all the Districts. @. C. acanthdtdes, (Linn.) 
occurs in similar situations, but is the less common form. I find 
no permanent character by which to separate these plants. 
3. C. Janceolatus, (Linn.} lanceolate, or Spear Thistle. Engi. 
Bot. t. 107. 
Locality. In waste places, by road-sides, in pastures, and culti- 
vated ground. B. Fl. July, August. Area, 1.2.3.4.5. Very 
common in all the Districts. 
4. C. eriophorus, (Linn.) woolly-headed Thistle. Hriophorus 
signifies woolly ; from erion wool, and phero to bear; in allusion to 
the under part of the leaves, and especially the head of the plant 
being covered with a thick woolly substance. Engi. Bot. t. 
386. 
