WEEDS 247 



It not only comes early, finding warm, sunny corners in April, but 

 it blooms solitary and audacious long after its true season is 

 spent. The time for each blossom is short, the involucre at first 

 closing; later, after the pappus has grown, opening, turning down- 

 ward, leaving the seed wholly exposed to the breeze. 



The dandelion has tempted many poets' pens. The deep color 

 of the flower suggests to James Russell Lowell a comparison with 

 the precious metal which tempted the " Spanish prow " across 

 the seas : 



"Dear common flower that grow'st beside the way. 

 Fringing the dusty way with harmless gold, 



First pledge of blithesome May, 

 Which children pluck, and full of pride uphold — 



High-hearted buccaneers, o'erjoyed that they 

 An Eldorado in the grass have found 

 Which not the rich earth's ample round 



May match in wealth — thou art more dear to me 



Than all the prouder summer blooms may be. 



"Gold such as thine ne'er drew the Spanish prow 



Through the primeval hush of Indian seas. 

 Nor wrinkled the lean brow 



Of age, to rob the lover's heart of ease ! 

 'Tis the spring's largess, which she scatters now 



To rich and poor alike, with lavish hand; 



Though most hearts never understand 

 To take it at God's value, but pass by 

 The oflEered wealth with unrewarded eye." 



42. Thistle 



Ciilcus lanceolatus. — Family, Composite. Color, crimson. 

 Leaves, cut, prickly, woolly, sessile, alternate, running down 

 the stem. Time, summer. 



Flowers in a round, close head, surrounded by a prickly in- 

 volucre. 



This is the common thistle, with leaves and stem very prickly, 



