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Cai'diius arvensis (Perennial thistle ; falsely called Calif ornian 

 thistle in Australia and New Zealand. In England called common 

 thistle or green thistle ; and in Canada, cursed thistle). Syn. 

 Cnicus dircnsis, Cirsiitui at reuse, Scrntulti nn'titsis. Indigenous to 

 Europe, Western Asia and Northern Africa. Recognisable by its 

 perennial roots which makes it the most difficult of all thistles to 

 suppress , the male and the female flowers are produced on separate 

 plants ; flower heads of moderate size, purplish, and in clusters on 

 short stalks ; height from two to four feet, and even more in very 

 rich soil. 



Cardinis lanccolatus (Spear thistle ; also, but incorrectly, 

 called Scotch thistle. Syn. Cnicus lanceolalns, Cirsiiini lanceolatutri). 

 Indigenous to the countries surrounding the Mediterranean and 

 ot early introduction into several of the Australian colonies. A 

 robust plant with formidable spines ; easily recognisable by its 

 deeply lobed leaves, which always carry long spines at their points. 

 The lower leaves are very large, and all are covered on the under- 

 side with a soft webby coating ; flower-heads large, pinkish, and 

 developing many seeds which have a large pappus attached, ad- 

 mitting of them being carried long distances. The plant, like most 

 thistles, is very exhaustive to the soil ; it flowers but once, but 

 sometimes may take two years to arrive at maturity, reaching a 

 height of three feet and upwards, and, not rarely, over six feet in 

 good land. In New Zealand I have seen this plant over ten feet on 

 one occasion. 



Canlnus Marianus(Mi\k thistle; varigated th.; spotted th.; Maria 

 th.; blessed th.; holy th.; Our Lady's th. Syn. Gilybinn Muritininn}. 

 Indigenous to Europe, Asiaj and Africa. A very robust thistle with 

 large variegated or mottled leaves, which give the plant a conspicuous 

 appearance. Producing large flower beads and abundant seeds it 

 becomes very aggressive, and rapidly occupies the whole ground 

 on which it once has settled. It is terribly exhausting to the soil, 

 and grows generally to several feet, and not rarely over six feet 

 high. In New South Wales I have several times met with it 

 reaching more than 10 feet, and covering many acres of ground so 

 densely as to be impenetrable. The plant is very nutritious and 

 liked by horses, who in preference feed upon it when it wilts 

 through ripening, as then the prickles are less pungent. Ensilage 

 also has been successfully made of it on several occasions in New South 

 Wales. Fowls, and particularly chickens, do not despise the 

 seeds. 



Caniiins pycnocephalus (Shore thistle ; winged thistle ; slender 

 thistle). Indigenous to Middle and Southern P^urope, Northern 

 Africa, and South-western Asia. In general appearance resembling 

 Cnnhnis tinrnsis, but differing from it by the absence of a perennial 

 root, and having flower-heads without stalks, which, besides, are 

 more slender. 



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