422 DICOTYLEDONS AND CONIFERS 



Centaurea melitmsis, Linn. Cockspur Thistle ; Malta Thistle 

 In 1895 T. W. Kirk reported this species from Canterbury. It 

 has not been recorded since. 



Centaurea Sohtitialis, Linn. Yellow Star-thistle 

 First recorded in 1864 in Hooker's list, and frequently in sub- 

 sequent lists for the North Island. Cheeseman reports it in 1822 

 as spreading fast, especially in the Waikato. The author noted it in 

 1885 in the Clutha Valley. In 1895 the Agricultural Department 

 noted it as occurring in many parts of the colony, as on the increase 

 in pasture lands, and sometimes pccurring in cornfields. In the 

 Manual (1906) it is reported as occurring in fields and waste places, 

 not uncommonly, in both islands. (Fl., Feb. to April.) 



In the Act (Noxious Weeds) of 1900, Centaurea (any species) is 

 included among noxious seeds ; and it is placed in the Second Schedule 

 of the Act by Special Gazette Notice of 20th June, 1901. 



Onopordon Acanthium, Linn. Cotton Thistle ; Scotch Thistle 



Early introduced into the country, but first recorded from Ash- 

 burton in 1903 by W. W. Smith, who stated that it was very widely 

 spread, and its seeds were scattered chiefly by goldfinches. 



Petasites vulgaris, Desf. Butter-bur 



Noted as a garden escape by the author in 1882 in the neighbour- 

 hood of Dunedin. An auctioneer about that date advertised a plant 

 sale, and as a special attraction notified a number of clumps of 

 Chatham Island Lily. The author went to examine the plants before 

 the sale, and found that they were bunches of Petasites. The 

 auctioneer withdrew them from sale, and later reported that the 

 owner had thrown them out. The species had nowhere established 

 itself as a wild plant, but wherever it has been thrown out from a 

 garden, it is apt to increase rapidly by its underground stems. Reported 

 from Ashburton in 1903 by W. W. Smith. This species is fertilised 

 in Europe by Apis mellifica, Botnbus terrestris and B. lucorum. 



Cynara Cardunculus, Linn. Cardoon 



First recorded by Cheeseman in 1896 from the North Cape dis- 

 trict. In 1906 reported as occurring in waste places in the North 

 Island, not common. In the South Island it is only known in 

 cultivation. 



Carduus nutans, Linn. Musk-thistle 



Reported from Eastern Otago (Pomahaka) by Kirk in 1899. (Fl., 

 Dec. to Jan.) 



