MUSK THISTLE 



'95 



follower of man. It also grows largely on sandy, hilly ground, hybrid- 

 izing with other species and growing gregariously. 



It is tall, erect, the stem being grooved, with wavy wings, very 

 spinose, and cottony. The leaves at the base run down the stem. 

 They are spinous, lance-shaped, hairy, with woolly veins below, and 

 deeply lobed. The spines serve as a protection against animals. 



The flowers are drooping, purple, with lance-shaped acute phyllaries. 



Photo S. Crook 



MUSK THISTLE (Carduiis nn/ans, L.) 



The scales taper to a rigid point. The outer phyllaries are turned 

 back. The florets are tubular, complete, and have scales at the base. 



The height varies from 2-3 ft. Musk Thistle flowers in July and 

 August. It is a herbaceous annual and multiplied by seeds. 



The flowers are bisexual, with tubular corollas, the tube widened at 

 the top, and short, so accessible to short-lipped insects. The anthers 

 bear linear appendages, and the style arms are united to form a column 

 with a ring of hairs at the base. The flowerheads are large and con- 

 spicuous, and there is abundance of honey and pollen. The plant is 

 visited by Bombus hortorum, B. pratonuu, B. rcsta/is, Ila/ictns cv/iu- 

 dricus, H. malachnrus, and the Narrow-bordered Five-spotted Burnet 

 (Zyg&na lonicera). 



