By Thomas Bruges Flower, Esq. 



199 



Carduus, (Linn.) Thistle. 

 Linn. CI. xix. Ord. i. 

 Name. From the Celtic and Gaelic card', a card for combing 

 wool, for which the involucre of some of the species may have been 

 employed ; and this again from ard, in Celtic, a point ; whence 

 also ardos, in Greek, arduus, ardeo, &c, in Latin. 



1. C. nutans, (Linn.) nodding Thistle, in allusion to the droop- 

 ing head of the plant. It is called also the Musk Thistle, in refer- 

 ence to the powerful musk-like smell which it exhales in hot 

 weather towards evening. Engl. Bot. t. 1112. 



Locality. In dry waste ground, rough barren fields, pastures 

 and fallows ; plentiful in calcareous soils, abundant on the sides of 

 our high downs, and in chalk pits. B. Fl. May, August. Area, 

 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 



In all the Districts. Flowers large and handsome, drooping, of a 

 crimson or purplish colour, sometimes white, with a sweet musky 

 scent at all times of the day in warm weather. This species is 

 distinguished from other British Thistles by the nodding or droop- 

 ing corolla. 



2. C. crispus, (Linn.) welted Thistle, in allusion to the welt or 

 edging, which runs throughout the plant. Engl. Bot. t. 973. 



Locality. In hedge-banks, borders of fields, and by road-sides* 

 B. Fl. July, August. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 



Generally distributed in all the Districts. /3. C. acanthokles, (Linn.) 

 occurs in similar situations, but is the less common form. I find 

 no permanent character by which to separate these plants. 



3. C. lanceolatus, (Linn.) lanceolate, or Spear Thistle. Engl. 

 Bot. t. 107. 



Locality. In waste places, by road-sides, in pastures, and culti- 

 vated ground. B. FL July, August. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Very 

 common in all the Districts. 



4. C. eriophorus, (Linn.) woolly-headed Thistle. Eriophorus 

 signifies woolly ; from erion wool, and phero to bear ; in allusion to 

 the under part of the leaves, and especially the head of the plant 

 being covered with a thick woolly substance. Engl. Bot. t, 

 386. 



