ON HEATB, DOWN AND MOOR 



267 



leaves lie close on the ground, around the large, purple, stemless, 

 and, usually, solitary flower-head. The plant flowers from July 

 to September. 



The Carhne Thistle {Carlina vulgaris), as its name shows, does 

 not belong to the same genus as the others, from which it differs 

 principally in having its inner bracts coloured and spreading. It 



The Carline Thistle. 



is an erect plant, with a stiff stem, usually branching, from six to 

 eighteen inches high. Its leaves are very prickly, and do not form 

 wings down the stem. The flower-heads are particularly interesting, 

 having much the appearance of everlasting flowers. In fact, the 

 whole plant is of such a stiff and dry natiire that it undergoes but 

 little change in appearance when cut and preserved. The outer 

 bracts are leaf}' and spreading, with strong, prickly teeth or lobes ; 

 and the inner ones are very narrow, entire, white or pale yellow, 

 of a chaffy natme and very glossy. The latter are very sensitive 



