MILK THISTLE 



199 



seed, or dispersed in the same way as weeds, such as Mallow, Tansy, 

 Wormwood, Chicory, Borage, Mullein, and other casuals. 



The stems are thick at the base, branched, rather tall, with cottony 

 down, ribbed, furrowed, and leafless above. The radical leaves are 

 spreading and prostrate, tripinnate, sinuate, shining, with spinose 

 margin, and with white, net-like veins, the stem-leaves clasping the stem. 



The flowerheads, which are large and solitary, are purple and 

 globose. The phyllaries are leaf- 

 like below, closely associated, 

 then spreading and bent back, 

 spinous at the margin, leathery, 

 broad, and with one long ter- 

 minal spine. The receptacle is 

 fleshy and hairy. The fruit is 

 oblong, transversely wrinkled, 

 black, with white pappus, grow- 

 ing obliquely. The seeds con- 

 tain oil for emulsion and are 

 used as bird-seed. 



The plant grows to a height 

 of 5 ft. The flowers open in 

 July. Like Cotton Thistle it is 

 a herbaceous triennial, and may 

 be reproduced by seed. It is 

 worth cultivating. 



The flowers contain honey, 

 and the tube is long and slender 

 but enlarged above. The flower- 

 head is like Carduus, rather large, 

 rose-colour, with anther -stalks 



united into a sheath. Being of casual occurrence, c 

 the number of visitors are wanting. 



The achenes are large and provided with a pappus, whi 

 them to be dispersed by aid of the wind. 



Milk Thistle is more or less a sand-loving plant or ad 

 sand soil or sand loam. 



Silybum, Dioscorides, is the Greek name for an edible 

 marianvs, Linnaeus, is from the Virgin Mary, and refers to a leger 

 that drops of her milk fell on the leaves and caused the spottu 

 Thistle is a common name for it, in allusion to the markings (whi 

 veins or spots) of the leaves and the milky juice. From its numeroi 



MILK THISTLE (Silybm 



