316 THE COMPOSITE FAMILY. 



In low, wet pastures, boggy meadows, and marshy thickets, chiefly in 

 western Europe. Abundant in some of the southern counties of England 

 and I)-eland, more rare in the north. Fl. summer. Luxuriant specimens, 

 with more divided leaves, sometimes slightly decurrent, have been considered 

 as a species under the name of C. Forstet-i, or as hybrids between this and tlie 

 niirsh T. Anotlier luxuriant variety occurs occasionally, approaching the 

 tuberous T. in foliage, but with 2 or 3 flower-heads rather close together, 

 not on long separate peduncles. 



12. Dwarf Thistle. Carduus acaulis, Linn. 

 (Eug. Bot. t. 161. Cmciis, Brit. Fl.) 



In the common state this is at once distinguished by the almost total 

 want of stem. A thict, woody, perennial stock bears a spreading tuft of 

 very prickly pinnatifld and glabrous leaves, in the midst of which are a few 

 rather large sessile flower-heads. Involucres ovoid, not cottony, with, 

 numerous lanceolate, obtuse or scarcely pointed bracts. Florets purple. 

 Occasionally, but rarely, the stem will grow up to the height of 2 or 3 inches. 



In dry pastm-es, in temperate Europe and Russian Asia, extending north- 

 ward to southern Scandinavia. In Britain, only in the southern and some 

 central counties of England. Fl. summer, rather late. In some situations, 

 on the Continent, the stem will grow out to 6 or 8 inches, but this variety is 

 very rare in England. 



XXV. OWOPORD. ONOPOEDON. 



Large-headed, stout, prickly herbs, only differing from Thistle in the re- 

 ceptacle, which, instead of bearing long chaffy bristles between the florets, 

 is honeycombed into a number of little cavities, the jagged edges of which 

 are shorter than the achenes. 



There are but few species, natives of the Mediterranean and Caucasian 

 regions, one only of which extends into central Europe. 



1. Common Onopord. Onopordon Acanthium, Linn. 

 (Eng. Bot. 977. Scotch or Cotton Thistle.) 



A stout, branched biennial, attaining sometimes 6 feet or even more, 

 covered with a loose cottony wool. Leaves coarsely toothed or pinnatifld, 

 waved and very prickly, their broadly-decurrent margins forming prickly 

 wings all down the stem. Flower- heads large, globular, erect, and soUtary 

 on the bi-anches of a large irregular panicle. Involucral bracts numerous, 

 ending in a long, lanceolate, spreading prickle. Hairs of the pappus rather 

 longer than the achenes, not feathery, but strongly toothed when seen under 

 a magnifying glass. 



A native of the Mediterranean region and west-central Asia, not uncom- 

 mon also in central Europe and all across Russian Asia, but spreads readily 

 with cultivation, and it is difficult to say how fer north it is indigenous. 

 Now found in several parts of England, but certainly not wild in Scotland, 

 although generally selected to represent the Scotch heraldic Thistle. Fl. 

 end of summer. 



XXVI. CARI.INE. CARLINA. 

 Low, very prickly herbs. Outer bracts of the involucre very prickly, 



