252 THE COMPOSITE FAMILY. [ Carduus. 
3. C.acanthoides, Linn. (fig. 558). Welted Thistle-—Much re- — 
sembles C. nutans, but is usually taller and rather more branched; the 
leaves narrower and more prickly; and the stem more thickly covered 
with prickly appendages, decurrent from the base of the leaves. Flower- 
heads not so large, though yet globular and slightly drooping; the involu- 
cral bracts very numerous and narrow, ending in a linear, spreading or 
recurved prickle, the innermost often of a thinner texture, slightly coloured 
-and scarcely prickly. Hairs of the pappus simple. C. crispus, Linn. 
A very common Continental Thistle, extending eastward entirely across 
Asia, and northward to the Arctic Circle, although in Britain, like many 
others, it becomes scarce in Scotland. FV. summer. Three formsare often 
distinguished as species, C. acanthoides, Linn., with few flower-heads, on 
long peduncles, and the leaves often nearly glabrous; C. crispus, Linn., 
with the heads clustered several together on short stalks, and the leaves 
usually rather broader and more cottony underneath; and C. polyanthemus, 
Koch., with crowded ovoid heads ; but they run too much one into the other 
to be separable even as permanent varieties. 
4. ©. pycnocephalus, Linn. (fig. 559). Slender Thistle.—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 C. acanthotdes. 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. (. 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. 7. 
all summer. 
5, C.lanceolatus, Linn. (fig. 560). Spear Thistle.—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, rougk on the upper side with short 
almost prickly hairs, white and cottony underneath. Flower-heads few, 
ovoid, near an inch anda half long when in flower. Involucral 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. #7. all summer. 
6, C. palustris, Linn. (fig. 561). Marsh Thistle.—A 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 C. 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 sur- 
faces; the upper leaves small and very narrow. Flower-heads rather 
numerous, small and ovoid, usually collected in clusters, forming an ir- 
