STAR THISTLE (Centaurea melitensis, L.). Flower heads 

 small, the florets yellow and all tubular, rising out of a globular 

 involucre which is armed with prickly spines. Leaves alter- 

 nate, gray green, the upper narrow, without footstalks and 

 decurrent upon the stem, in the form of long, narrow, wings; 

 the basal leaves lyre-shaped and deep-lobed. An erec j . much- 

 branched annual 1 to 2| feet high, common in fieL and by 

 roadsides, California and Arizona, blooming May to Novem- 

 ber. 



The Star This tie attracts attention both because of its pretty, 

 thistle-like golden flowers, and because of its vicious prick- 

 liness. On the latter account it is in general disgrace; yet 

 it is of good family and its cousins, the Cornflowers, the Sweet 

 Sultans, and the Dusty Millers, are cherished garden plants. 

 The Star Thistle is an immigrant on the Pacific Coast, its 

 original home being southern Europe. The specific name, 

 Melitensis, indeed, means "Maltese." The popular name, 

 Star Thistle, also is of interesting etymology the spiny, glob- 

 ular involucre suggesting the medieval weapon called " morn- 

 ing star" a metal ball set with spikes, and mounted on a 

 long handle. 



248 



