COMPOSITE. 5 



Stem 1 to 4 feet high, not winged, sulcate. Leaves (both 

 the radical ones and those of the stem) generally deeply sinuatcd. 

 Pericline ovate-globular, 1 to 2 inches across, with rather numerous 

 large green phyllaries, the exterior ones with spreading appendages 

 often 1 inch long, with the edges fimbriate-spinous, and the strong 

 central nerve excurrent into a yellowish spine. Flowers purplish- 

 crimson. Achenes \ inch long or more, black, often marbled witli 

 grey, finely transversely rugose. Pappus much longer than the 

 achene, of pure white hairs, with very short hairs upon them. 

 Leaves light-green, shining, conspicuously veined with white above. 



Milk-TIiistle. 



French, Silybe Chardon Marie. German, Gemeiiie Mariendistel. 



This beautiful plant, with its deep glossy green leaves and milk-white veins, is 

 not unworthy of cultivation in the shrubbery or garden. In the days of monkish 

 superstition, the milky veins were said to have originated in the milk of the Virgin 

 Mary having fallen on them as she nursed the infant Jeaus ; hence it was called the 

 " Holy Thistle," and " Our Lady's Thistle ;" and the Latin name of the plant has the 

 same derivation. " Dioscorides affirmed that the seeds being drunke are a remedy for 

 infants that have their sinews drawn together, and for those that be bitten of 

 serpents;" and we find in a record of old Saxon remedies, that "this wort if hung 

 upon a man's neck it setteth snakes to flight." The stalks of the Milk-Thistle, like 

 those of most of our larger Thistles, may be eaten, and are both palatable and nutritious. 

 It is called pig-leaves in some country districts. 



GENUS III.—C A R D U U S. Linn. 



Pericline of numerous imbricated entire phyllai'ies, often 

 spinous at the summit, not scarious at the margin nor appendi- 

 culate. Florets aU equal, regular, perfect, or sub-unisexual and 

 sub-dioecious by abortion. Filaments free, hairy or denticulate ; 

 anthers prolonged at the apex into a linear-subulate scarious 

 appendage. Achenes oblong-ovoid, laterally compressed, without 

 raised lines ; epigynous disk surrounded by an entire border ; 

 pappus caducous, foi-med of rough or plumose hairs, arranged in 

 several rows and united into a ring at the base. Clinanth not 

 pitted, hairy. 



Herbs, often biennial. Leaves often spinous at the margins, 

 and frequently decurrent on the stem. Pericline usually large, 

 sub-globose or ovoid. Flowers purple or crimson, varying to 

 white, rarely dull-yellow. 



The derivation of the name of this genus of plants is difficult to dete- mine. Ey 

 some authors it is supposed to come from j^awpw (ckeuro). a technical vrrb denoting 

 the operation of carding wool, to which process the head^ of some of tl a species are 

 applicable. 



