Carduus.] XLIII, COMPOSITA, 253 
sinuate or shortly pinnatifid, the stem-leaves lanceolate, bordered only 
with short, slightly prickly teeth. 
In low, wet pastures, boggy meadows, and marshy thickets, chiefly 
in western Europe. Abundant in some of the southern counties of 
England and Ireland, 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. Forsteri, or as 
hybrids between this and C. palustris. Another luxuriant variety occurs 
occasionally, approaching C. tuberosus in foliage, but with 2 or 3 flower- 
heads rather close together, not on long separate peduncles. 
12. ©. acaulis, Linn. (fig. 569). Dwarf 7.—In the common state 
this is at once distinguished by the almost total want of stem. A 
thick, woody, perennial stock bears a spreading tuft of very prickly 
pinnatifid 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. Hairs 
of the pappus feathery. 
In dry pastures, in temperate Europe and Russian Asia, extending 
northward to southern Scandinavia. In Britain, only in the southern 
and some central counties of England, where it is often a troublesome 
weed in pastures. FV. 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. 
XXVI. ONOPORDON. ONOPORD. 
- Large-headed, stout, prickly herbs, only differing from Carduus in 
the receptacle, 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. O. Acanthium, Linn. (fig. 570). (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 pin- 
natifid, waved and very prickly, their broadly-decurrent margins forming 
prickly wings all down the stem. Flower-heads large, globular, erect, 
and solitary on the branches 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 un- 
common also in central Europe and all across Russian Asia, but spreads 
readily with cultivation, and it is difficult to say how far 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. 
XXVII. CARLINA. CARLINE. 
Low, very prickly herbs. Outer bracts of the involucre very prickly, 
inner ones coloured or shining, long, and spreading like the rays of a 
