COMPOSITAE (COMPOSITE FAMILY) 



511 



Time of bloom: July to October. 

 Seed-time: August to November. 

 Range: Newfoundland to Minnesota and Nebraska, southward to 



Georgia and Missouri. 

 Habitat: Pastures, fence rows, roadsides, and waste places. 



In order to mature fruit these plants must remain undisturbed 

 until the second year of growth ; the first season produces only a 

 deep taproot crowned by a large, 

 tufted, spreading rosette of leaves, 

 three to six or more inches long, 

 lance-shaped, deeply pinnatifid, the 

 lobes tipped with spines, the upper 

 surface deep green and rough-hairy 

 but the under side clothed with 

 brownish, webby wool which disap- 

 pears as the plants grow older. 

 Stems two to four feet high, stout, 

 branching, leafy to the heads. Leaves 

 decurrent on the stem, the wings 

 extending to the axil of the leaf 

 below, the edges very prickly. 

 Heads large, about two inches 

 high and nearly as broad, mostly 

 solitary at the ends of stem and 

 branches, the bracts of the invo- 

 lucre lance-shaped, long-pointed, all 

 tipped with needle-like spines ; flo- 

 rets all tubular, five-lobed, deep 

 purple, fragrant. Achenes light- 

 colored, oblong, slightly flattened and 

 curved, with long, plumose, white pappus. (Fig. 354.) Gold- 

 finches are very fond of these seeds and usually build their nests 

 of Thistle-down, a habit which has gained for them the name of 

 "Thistle-birds." 



Means of control 



Deep spudding or hoe-cutting of first-year rosettes ; flowering 

 stalks should be cut below the crown, before the first flowers mature ; 



FIG. 354. Common or Bull 

 Thistle (Circium lanceolaturri) . 

 XJ. 



