112 RIVERSIDE LETTERS XIV 



spines, which suggest a connection with the 

 thistle tribe, but the plant is no relation to the 

 thistles ; the spines are differently disposed, 

 being confined to the points of the bloom 

 spikes, and to the tips of the numerous 

 divisions of the leaves and not on the stalks 

 or stems. These spines are very sharp, their 

 prick being irritating to the skin. The foliage 

 is remarkably beautiful, it is the plant which 

 is supposed to have suggested the ornamental 

 leaves on the Corinthian capital. Though 

 not very hardy in our climate, the roots hardly 

 ever die, but I believe it never blooms in the 

 summer that succeeds a very hard winter. It 

 is common in Greece and the Holy Land ; my 

 nephew brought me some dry blooms from the 

 latter place, where, he told me, he at one time 

 rode knee deep through masses of the plant. 

 I am quite at a loss to account for the 

 curious name sometimes given to the acan- 

 thus, viz., "Bear's Breech." Gerard does not 

 much help me on this point ; this is what he 

 says : 



