WILD FLOWERS OF CALIFORNIA 87 



1027. Calcaliopsis Nardosmia 



A woolly perennial with palmate leaves about three inches across, and honey- 

 scented yellow flowers, without rays. Near the Geysers, Sonoma County and 

 northward. 



1028. Lepidospartum sqnamatnm 



A broom-like shrub with mostly scales for leaves, without rays. Common in 

 washes and dry gravelly soil from San Luis Obispo County south. 



1029. Peucephyllum Schotti 



An interesting shrub as according to Hall its relationship in the compositae is 

 not well defined. A desert shrub with trunk-like stem, rough bark and crowded 

 resinous dotted leaves. Flowers yellowish, without rays. In canyons and on foot- 

 hills, Inyo county south through the deserts. 



THISTLE TRIBE CYXAREAE 



The name thistle has been applied indiscriminately to many plants of this 

 tribe, belonging to different genera and also to a large number of plants in other 

 families. 



1030. Blessed Thistle Cnicus benedictus 



An annual about a foot high and much branched with prickly toothed leaves. 

 Heads about two inches across and surrounded by a rosette of leaves. Flowers 

 yellow, without rays. Called "Blessed" because of the erroneous belief that it had 

 wonderful healing properties. Introduced from Europe; interior valleys. 



1031. THISTLE CARDUUS CIRSIUM 



A large group of stout, mostly perennial plants with more or less prickly 

 leaves and stems and large or medium sized many flowered heads of purple, red, 

 pale-yellow or white flowers. The involucre is spiny and decidedly obnoxious. 

 Some of them are very beautiful and several of the western species should be in- 

 troduced into our gardens. To indicate that there are conspicuous plants in our 

 immediate vicinity that have not been described we might cite the instance of a 

 new thistle recently discovered by Miss Walker, of the L'niversity of California, 

 herbarium in the vicinity of Berkeley canyon. We will not list the species but 

 refer you to Jepson ; flora of western middle California, who describes thirteen 

 species and Hall's Compositae of southern California where six species are classi- 

 fied. These include most of the species of the State. 



The Bull Thistle, C. lance olatum, an introduced weedy European species is be- 

 coming quite abundant in pastures and waste places in the Bay Region and else- 

 where. The dreaded Canadian Thistle, C. arvensis, is not infrequent in Lassen and 

 Modoc counties. As it has pernicious rootstocks which are very difficult to eradi- 

 cate from cultivated fields, it should be given immediate attention. It is a native 

 of Europe but first became troublesome in Canada, and has retained the name. 



1032. Milk Thistle Silybum marianum 



This is the thistle that is so abundant up in the Bay Region and elsewhere, 

 sometimes occupying vacant lots to the exclusion of all other vegetation. It can be 

 recognized by the white-blotched leaves. It is a native of Europe where it can be 

 seen growing in gardens as an ornamental. 



CENTAUREA 



The blue bottle or German Cornflower, C. cyaints, of the gardens is typical of 

 the genus. It is sometimes found as an escape. Some of them are our worst weeds 

 particularly in the grain fields and pastures. They are all introduced from Europe. 



1033. Napa Thistle C. Melitensis Abundant everywhere. Yel- 

 Tocalote low flowers, spines on 



heads 1-4 to 1-3 inch 

 long. 



1034. Star Thistle C. solstitialis More abundant in the In- 



terior Valley. Yellow- 

 flowers. Spines on heads 

 stout and 1-2 to 1 inch 

 long. 



