Carduus — Carex. 109 



favourable circumstances, it sometimes grows as high as 

 20 ft. In plants growing singly the stem is frequently 

 much branched, but when grown in masses it is generally 

 straight and unbranched. The leaves are long-stalked, 

 and composed of from five to seven long, lance-shaped, 

 sharp-pointed leaflets, radiating from the top of the stalk, 

 and with the margins cut into sharp saw-like teeth. This 

 well-known plant is useful where the tenderer subtropical 

 plants cannot be enjoyed. Single well-grown plants of 

 it look very imposing and distinct, and are good for the 

 backs of borders or mixed groups. For these purposes, 

 it should be sown early in April in the open ground. 

 To get large plants it would no doubt be worth while 

 raising it in frames. It loves a warm, sandy loam. 



*Carduuse riophorus {Woolly -headed Thistle). — 

 A remarkably conspicuous native plant, with a much- 

 branched, furrowed, hairy stem 3 ft. to 5 ft. high, and 

 very deeply cut and undulated spiny leaves, the lower 

 ones often 2 ft. long. The flower-heads are very large, 

 of a purplish-red colour, and surrounded on the under 

 side with a dense white cottony web. There are few 

 plants more handsome or novel in appearance than an 

 established one of this. It is suitable for borders, or 

 groups of hardy fine-foliaged plants, and grows well in 

 any ordinary garden-soil. Seed. 



*Carex paniculata. — A very large sedge, growing 

 somewhat like a dwarf tree-fern, with sti ong and thick 

 stems, and with luxuriant masses of drooping leaves. 

 The roots form dense elevated tufts, frequently elevated 

 from one to three feet above the surface of the ground ; 

 and when the plant is in flower, it generally exhibits 



