COMPOSITE 35j 



native of the central and eastern High-Alps, has leaves 

 of a dark green tinged with grey, almost silky, moder- 

 ately toothed and elongate. The three last species, all 

 very similar, may be grown in a dry, sunny crevice with 

 cool, porous soil, but incanus only is needed. 



Carlina 



Eng. : Carline-Thistle; "Fr. : Chardon d' Argent ; Ger. : Eberwurz. 



C. acaulis (PI. LVIII). This is the beautiful silver- 

 thistle that may be seen all the autumn through glistening 

 on every sunny slope in the Swiss hills. Our peasant 

 women fashion it into most becoming trimmings for their 

 hats, since the scarious inner bracts, which form the 

 circlet so characteristic of the flower, are persistent and 

 practically everlasting. Legend has it that Charlemagne, 

 whose name the plant bears, cured by its properties his 

 soldiers of the plague in Africa. Natives of the Ormont 

 valleys call it the "Fair weather Thistle", since the 

 gigantic head closes on the approach of rain and does not 

 reopen till the return of sun. The bitter and tonic 

 properties are much used as a stimulant and a sudorific ; 

 the receptacle may be eaten like that of the Globe 

 Artichoke, and some profess to find the flavour very 

 delicate. Haller says that it is a regular dish among 

 the Vaudois Highlanders and that he did not find it 

 unpleasant. 



A valuable plant for rockeries and pleasure gardens. 

 Any rather shallow soil will do, but it thrives best in arid 

 sand, where it will brighten the garden with noble silver 

 flowers which last until the winter. The silver tone is 

 improved, as in Edelweiss, by finely broken limestone, 

 but, above all, the soil should be as poor as possible, else 

 the true character is completely destroyed. 



