Carduus.] XLIII. COMPOSITE. 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 0. 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. G. acaulis, Linn. (fig. 569). Dwarf T. — 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 Eussian 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. Fl. 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. ONOPOED. 



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 Eussian 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. CAELINE. 



Low, very prickly herbs. Outer bracts of the involucre very prickly, 

 inner ones coloured or shining, long, and spreading like the rays of a 



