70 CNICUS 



Cni'cus — continued. 



C. conspi' cutis, the Sca/rlet - Jlowered Thistle, or 

 Mexican ITiistle, is a handsome border plant 

 growing some 6 ft. in height or more, the 

 blood-red flowers appearing in September. 

 From Mexico in 1825. Syn., Erythrolodna 

 conspi'cua. 



C. erio'phorus is also a fine plant with purple 

 flowers, growing 3 ft. or more. Syn., Cir^sium 

 erio'phorum. 



Sow the seeds i in. deep in March where they 

 are to grow. 



Qobm'k—Cup and Saucers (named after Barnardez Cobo, 

 a Spanish botanist of the seventeenth century). 

 Nat. Ord. Polemoniacece. 



C. scan'dens. This herbaceous climber, hailing 

 from tropical America, is mentioned here as it 

 is usually treated as a half-hardy annual in this 

 country and sometimes as a half-hardy biennial 

 plant. Being of extraordinarily rapid growth 

 it is exceptionally well suited for growing 

 against trellis work, verandahs, or over arbours 

 and balconies. The dingy purple flowers, 

 without close inspection, are suggestive of the 

 well-known Canterbury Bells in shape and 

 size, but are produced singly on strong stems 

 in July. It must be planted in a sunny 

 position, where it will flower freely, and with 

 protection may survive a mild winter. Under 



