Carduus.] XLIII. COMPOSITE. 251 



but they run too much one into the other to be separable even as 

 permanent varieties. 



4. 0. pycnocephalus, Linn. (fig. 561). Slender T. — A stiff annual 

 or biennial, from 1 to 3 or 4 feet high, but not so stout as the last 

 three, and much more covered, especially the stems and the under side 

 of the leaves, with a white loose cotton. Leaves pinnatifid, with short, 

 wavy, very prickly lobes, and decurrent along the stem, forming waved 

 prickly wings as in 0. acanthoides. Flower-heads rather numerous, but 

 small and ovoid or oblong, generally in clusters at the top of the stem 

 and branches. Involucral bracts rather broad at the base, ending in a 

 narrow, straight or slightly spreading prickle. Florets pink or whitish. 

 Hairs of the pappus simple. G. tenuiflorus, Curtis. 



In waste places and cultivated ground, in western and southern 

 Europe and central Asia, extending northward to Denmark, but scarcely 

 eastward of the Rhine in central Europe. Not unfrequent in England 

 and Ireland, especially near the sea, and occurs also in the lowlands 

 of Scotland. Fl. all summer. 



5. G. lanceolatus, Linn. (fig. 562). Spear T. — A rather stout biennial, 

 3 or 4 feet high ; the stem winged and prickly. Leaves waved and 

 pinnatifid, with short but narrow lobes, the terminal longer and 

 lanceolate, all ending in a stiff prickle, rough on the upper side- with 

 short almost prickly hairs, white and cottony underneath. Flower- 

 heads few, ovoid, near an inch and a half long when in flower. Invo- 

 lucral bracts lanceolate, cottony ending in a stiff, spreading prickle. 

 Florets purple. Hairs of the pappus feathery. 



In fields, pastures, and waste places, very common throughout 

 Europe and Russian Asia, except the extreme north, and spread with 

 cultivation into other parts of the world. Abundant in Britain. FL 

 all summer. 



6. O. palustris, Linn. (fig. 563). Marsh T.—K stiff annual or 

 biennial, 4 or 5 feet high, and scarcely branched; the stems quite 

 covered with the prickly decurrent margins of the leaves as in G. 

 acanthoides. Leaves narrow, the lower ones 6 or 8 inches long, 

 pinnatifid with numerous ovate, wavy, prickly lobes, with a few 

 rough hairs scattered on both surfaces ; the upper leaves small and 

 very narrow. Flower-heads rather numerous, small and ovoid, usually 

 collected in clusters, forming an irregular terminal corymb. Invo- 

 lucral bracts numerous, with very small somewhat prickly points, 

 the inner ones often coloured. Florets purple. Hairs of the pappus 

 feathery. 



In wet fields, and meadows, throughout Europe and Russian Asia, 

 penetrating into the Arctic regions. Frequent in Britain. Fl. summer. 



7. O. arvensis, Curt. (fig. 564). Creeping T. — Rootstock perennial 

 and creeping, with erect annual stems 3 or 4 feet high. Leaves narrow, 

 pinnatifid, and very prickly, either embracing the stem with prickly 

 auricles or shortly decurrent. Flower-heads not large, forming rather 

 loose terminal corymbs, and always dioecious ; the males nearly glo- 

 bular, with very projecting purple florets ; the females with much longer 

 involucres but shorter florets, the copious feathery pappus of the achenes 

 projecting considerably as the fruit ripens ; in both, the involucral 

 bracts are numerous, appressed, with very small prickly points. 



In cultivated and waste places, the commonest of European and 



