662 



CARDOON 



CAREX 



introduced into South America, and has run wild exten- 

 sively on the pampas. Darwin writes that "no culti- 

 vated plant has run wild on so enormous a scale as the 

 cardoon." From the artichoke it differs in taller and 

 more prickly growth and smaller heads. The cardoon 

 is perennial, but it is not hardy, and is treated as an 

 annual. Seeds are sown in spring, either in pots under 

 glass or in the open where the plants are to stand. The 

 later sowing is usually preferred. The plants are given 



795. Leaf of Canada thistle. Carduus arvensis or Cirsium arvense. 



rich soil and should have abundant moisture supply, 

 for they must make continuous and strong growth. 

 When the leaves are nearly full grown, they are tied 

 together near the top, straw is piled around the head, 

 and earth is banked against it. This is to blanch the 

 plant, for it is inedible unless so treated. From two to 

 four weeks is required for the blanching. The procedure is 

 not very unlike that adopted for the blanching of celery 

 or endive. If the plants are late, they may be dug just 

 before frost and blanched in a storage pit. The plants 

 are usually grown 2 to 3 feet apart, in rows which are 4 

 feet apart. They are sometimes grown in trenches, after 

 the old way of growing celery. Cardoon is very little 

 known as a vegetable in America except among 

 foreigners. L jj 3 



CARDUUS (the ancient Latin name of these plants). 

 Composite. THISTLE. Spiny-leaved annual, biennial or 

 perennial herbs, sometimes grown in borders and rock- 

 gardens for the interesting habit and the heads of 

 purple or white flowers. 



Carduus is sometimes united with Cirsium, but is here 

 kept distinct, being separated chiefly by non-plumose 

 or only indistinctly serrate pappus-bristles (see Cirsium) . 

 The common weedy thistles are referred either to 

 Carduus or Cirsium, depending on the definition of the 

 genus. Fig. 795 shows the spiny leaf of one of these. 

 Under the restricted use of the name, Carduus com- 

 prises about 80 species, from the Canary Isls. to Japan. 

 For C. benedictus, see Cnicus. 



acanthoides, Linn. A much-branched perennial 

 about 18-24 in. high: Ivs. bright green, pinnately 

 parted, the nerves very prominent beneath, spinose 

 margined: the solitary heads long-peduncled, the fls. 

 purple and showy. S. Eu. Scarcely known in Amer. 



C. Mari&nus, Hort., is a Silybum, and C. tauricum, Hort., is a 

 Cirsium. Both are advertised in England, but are unknown in 



N. TAYLOR.f 



CAREX (name of obscure origin). Cyperdceas. 

 SEDGE. Grass-like perennials of very 'many kinds, a 

 few of which are grown in bogs or as border plants. 



Flowers unisexual, in spikes, the staminate naked 

 and subtended by a bract or scale, the pistillate com- 

 prising a single pistil inclosed in a thin sac or perigyn- 

 ium; monoecious or rarely dioecious: sts. or culms solid, 

 not jointed, mostly 3-angled: Ivs. grass-like but 3- 

 ranked. One large group has 2 styles and a lenticular 

 achene, and the spikes are commonly androgynous or 

 contain both sexes (Fig. 796) ; another division has 3 styles 

 and a triangular achene, and the spikes are commonly 

 unisexual, the staminate being above (Figs. 797, 798). 



Carices are very abundant in cool temperate regions, 

 both in species and in individual plants. There are 

 more than 800 known species. Many of them grow 



on dry land, but the largest species grow in low grounds 

 and swales, and often form much of the bulk of bog 

 hay. Carices coyer great areas of marsh land in the 

 upper Mississippi region and are employed in the manu- 

 facture of "grass carpets" or Crex fabrics. The species 

 are difficult to distinguish because they are very similar, 

 and the study of them is usually left to specialists. Some 

 of our broad-leaved native species make excellent bor- 

 ders and interesting clumps in corners about build- 

 ings and along walls. Of such are C. platyphylla, 

 C. plantaginea, C. albursina. Many of the low- 

 land species are excellent adjuncts to the pond 

 of hardy aquatics. Others have very graceful 

 forms, with drooping spikes and slender culms 

 (Fig. 798). The following native species, and 

 probably others, have been offered by collectors : 

 C. aure'a, C. eburnea, C. flava, C. Grayi (one of 

 the best), C. hystricina, C. lupulina and its var. 

 pedunculata, C. lurida, C. paupercula, C. penn- 

 sylvanica, C. plantaginea, C. Pseudo-Cyperus, 

 ^' reirorsa > C- Richardsonii, C. riparia, C. Tucker- 

 manii, C. utriculata, C. vulpinoidea. The species 

 present no difficulties in cultivation if the natural habitat 

 is imitated. Propagated readily by seed sown in late 

 fall (germinating in spring) .or by division of the clumps. 

 M6rrpwi, Boott (C. japonica, Hort., not Thunb. 

 C. tenuissima, Hort. C. acutifolia, Hort.). Fig. 799. 

 Lvs. stiff and evergreen, long-pointed, in the common 

 garden form with a white band near either margin: 

 culm 1 ft. with a terminal staminate spike and 2 or 3 

 slender pistillate spikes (1 in. long) from sheaths: 

 perigynium small and firm, somewhat excurved, 2- 

 toothed, glabrous. Japan. G.C. III. 13:173. .R.B. 20, 

 p. 9. A very handsome plant, suited for pots or the 

 border. The stiff clean white-edged foliage keeps in 

 condition for months, making the plant useful for 

 decorations in which pot-plants are used. It is per- 

 fectly hardy in Cent. N. Y., 

 holding its foliage all win- 

 ter. A useful florists' plant. 



796. Carex (C. scoparia), 

 with androgynous spikes and 

 lenticular achenes. (XI). 

 N. Amer. 



797. Carex (C. lurida), with 

 Staminate terminal spikes and 

 trigonous achenes. (XM)- N. 

 Amer. 



intumescens, Rudge (C. tendria, Hort. C. tenera, 

 Hort.). Slender, but stiff, to 30 in.: Ivs. narrow, rolling 

 more or less when dry: staminate spikes long-stalked: 

 pistillate spikes 1 or 2, short-stalked, short, with few 

 large, turgid, tapering, shining perigynia and awl-like, 

 rough-pointed scales. N. Amer. 



