PURPLE FLOWERS 69 



jagged, and spiny leaves, and bears several large heads of purple 

 flowers : flowers in late summer and autumn. 



148. Marsh Thistle, Cnicus palustris, Daisy family. A less 

 conspicuous plant than the Spear Thistle, but very common in 

 damp places: the stem may be over 3 ft. high, and is clothed 

 with long, deeply cut, and very spiny, dark green leaves : the 

 flower-heads are of medium size, occurring in clusters : flowers 

 purple, appearing in late summer. 0. arvensis, the Creeping 





147. Spear Thistle. 



148. Marsh TliL-lk. 



Thistle, which is similar, but with whitish green leaves and 

 paler flowers, is common on waste ground. 



149. Knapweed, Centaur ea nigra, Daisy family. A common 

 plant in pastures, flowering fromjune to autumn : the leaves 

 are long, lance-shaped, and the lower ones are deeply notched : 

 the stem is 1 to 2 ft. high, and bears several large heads of deep 

 purple flowers. 



150. Bittersweet, Solanum Dulcamara, Bittersweet family. 

 The slender stem rambles amongst bushes in hedges and woods : 

 the leaves are almost compound, with 3 ovate lobes : the flowers 

 occur in drooping clusters, and resemble those of its relative 

 the potato in shape : the 5 petals are fine purple, each with 

 2 green spots, and in the centre of the flower is a little yellow 

 crown of stamens: the flowers appear in summer, and are 

 followed by small, red, slightly poisonous berries : the plant 

 was formerly much employed medicinally. 



