THE DAISY FAMILY 
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furrowed, generally simple, but sometimes slightly branched above, with runners, nearly leafless 
above the middle, not winged ; the leaves large, lance-shaped, undivided, clasping the stem 
(amplexicaul), toothed like a saw (serrate), edged with minute bristles, smooth, deep dull green, 
whitish and downy underneath. This species differs from other thistles in having no spines. 
Rather rare. Moist pastures. July— August. Perennial. 
Ground or Dwarf Plume-Thistle. (Cnicus acaulis, Willd.)— Flower-heads f inch 
across, egg-shaped, nearly stalkless (sub-sessile), solitary ; florets dark crimson, perfect or otherwise ; 
flower-bracts broadly lance-shaped, not spinous; achenes smooth, flattened, crowned with the long, 
silky, feathery calyx-hairs. [As described in the genus Cnicus.] Stemless or nearly so ; the 
leaves being smooth and all from the root (radical), deeply lobed towards the midrib (pinnatifid), 
with very spiny lobes, and spreading flat on the ground in a rosette. 
Easily distinguished from the other thistles by its lack of stem. Very injurious in pastures, 
as no plants can live underneath its leaves. 
Common in the south-east of England, especially on gravel or chalk. July — September. 
Perennial. 
Creeping 1 Plume-Thistle. (Cnicus arvensis, Hoffm.) — Flower-heads small, numerous, 
stalked, in flat clusters (corymbs) ; florets light, dingy purple or white, musk-scented, without 
stamens (female) on one and without carpels (male) on another plant (dioecious) ; flower-bracts 
broad, spinous-pointed, slightly cobwebby ; achenes flattened, smooth, crowned with the long, silky, 
feathery calyx-hairs (pappus). [As described in the genus Cnicus.] Stem 2-4 feet high, erect, 
angular, not winged ; the leaves being stalkless (sessile), deeply lobed (pinnatifid), wavy, very 
spinous, bright green, cottony underneath. Root creeping. 
Very common. Fields. July — September. Perennial. 
COTTON THISTLE. (ONOPORDON, LINN.) — This genus is similar to the ordinary Thistle 
(Carduus) ; it differs in having a 4-angled fruit. 
Scottish Thistle. (Onopordum Acanthium, Linn.)— The only British species. 
Flower-heads large, cobwebby, round; florets perfect, pale purple; flower-bracts numerous, 
green, cobwebby, spreading, ending in a strong yellow spine ; achenes 4-angled, wrinkled, crowned 
with the rough calyx-hairs (pappus), which fall off early. [As described in the genus Carduus.] 
Stem 2-5 feet high, stout, spinous, with all the leaves continued down to the stem (decurrent or 
continuously winged) ; the leaves very spiny, wavy, deeply lobed (pinnatifid), and woolly on 
both sides, the young leaves being white. 
This Thistle is cultivated as the national emblem of Scotland, the badge of the Stuarts ; it 
is one of the thorniest and stiffest of our thistles. 
Not common. Roadsides and waste places on chalky or sandy soils. July — October. 
Biennial. 
*MILK THISTLE. (MARIANA, HILL.) — This genus is distinguished from the other thistles by 
its milk-white veins, and by the stamens having united filaments as well as anthers, instead of being 
united by the anthers only. 
*Our Lady’s Thistle. (Mariana lactea, Hill.)— This, the only species found in England, 
is probably not a native. The flower-heads are large, 1-2 inches across, round, solitary, terminating 
the stem and branches ; florets perfect, rose-coloured, with the filaments as well as the anthers of 
the stamens united ; flower-bracts large, green, the exterior ones with spinous margins ending 
in a yellow spine 1 inch long ; achenes £ inch or more long, oval, flattened, black, and crowned 
