p. 136.— Lightf FI. Scot. v. i. p. 460.— Sil.tli. FI. Oxon. p. 247.— Abbot’* FI. 
Bi'ilf. p. 177. — Thoms. FI. Berw. p. 82.— Davies’ Welsh But. p. 76. — Purt. Midi. 
FI. V. ii. p. 385.— Relh. FI. Cant. (3rd edit.) p. 333.— Hook. FI. Scot. p. 338 —FI. 
Devon, pp. 134 & 157. — Johnst. FI. Berw. v. i. p. 180. — Winch’s FI. ofNorthumb. 
and Durh. p. 53. — Walker’s FI. of O.xf. p. 233 — Perry’s PI. Yarvic. Sel. p. 68. — 
Bab. FI. Bath. p. 28. ; Prim. FI. Sam. p 54. — Dick. FI. Abred. p. 50. — Iry. Lond. 
FI. p. 149. — Luxf. Reig. FI. p. 70. — Cow. FI. (Juide, p. 26. — Leigh. FI. of Shropsh. 
p. 404. — Mack. Cat. Pi. Irel. p. 72. ; FI. Hibirn. p. 156 . — Carlina sylvestris qui- 
busdam, aliis Atractylis , Ray’s Syn. p. 175. — Bank. Hist. v. iii. pt. i. lib. 25. 
p. 81 . — Carlina sylvestris major, Johnson’s Gerarde, p. 1159. 
Localities. — In dry hilly pastures and fields ; frequent. 
Biennial. — Flowers in June and July. 
Root tapering, small, with a few stiff fibres. Stem upright, from 
10 to 15 inches high, tumid just above the root, cylindrical, ribbed, 
leafy, purple, slightly downy, somewhat corymbose. Leaves alter- 
nate, more or less stem-clasping, spear-shaped, sinuated and wavy, 
green, veiny, rigid, the margins armed with numerous yellow 
prickles ; smooth above, usually downy or woolly beneath. Flowers 
rather handsome, terminal, solitary, of a singular aspect, and not 
inelegantly variegated. Invohicruni imbricated, more or less 
cottony ; outer scales (fig. 1 , «.) spear-shaped, acute, lax, their 
margins armed with simple and branched prickles ; innermost 
scales strap-shaped, unarmed, entire, membranous, cream-coloured, 
polished, forming a ray to the flowers, hygrometrical, changing 
their position according to the moisture of the atmosphere. Florets 
numerous, red at the top, straw-coloured below. Anthers with 
2 bristles at the base. Stiymas yellow. Pappus (see fig. 5.) sessile, 
feathery, awl-shaped at the base, a little above which it usually 
divides into 3 or 4 bristle-shaped, feathery branches (fig. 4, e.) 
Scales of the Receptacle as long as the florets, divided in the upper 
part into several bristle-like segments (fig. 7). 
This species is said to be a native throughout the whole of 
Europe, in dry, sandy pastures. Its presence indicates a very 
barren soil. When it is confined to local spots hand-weeding, 
Mr. Holdich says, may be serviceable ; but when spreading 
generally, he recommends the farmer to lose no time in using the 
plough, harrow, arid horse-hoe, and a judicious course of cleansing 
crops before returning the land to permanent pasture. 
According to the observations of Linnahjs, goats eat this plant, 
but cows refuse it. It was formerly much extolled as a remedy in 
hysterical cases, but it has now wholly fallen into disuse. Its 
floweis expand in dry, and close in moist weather, and, as they 
retain this property for a long time, they are often fixed against 
the cottage doors in Germany, France, and Spain, by way of 
hygrometers. 
The spreading tuft of down with which the seeds are crowned, and liy which 
they are wafted through the air, did not escape the uotice of Ossian, who fanci- 
fully desciibes "the Zephrys* sporting on the plain, pursuing the Thistle’s 
beard.” 
The whole plant is of a dry and rigid habit, and after it has perfected its seeds 
turns white and shrivel.-, in which state it ofien remains through the winter, or 
even second year, as Linst-us observes, a mournful spectacle. 
