COMPOSITE. 37 
SrECIES VI.-CENTAUREA CALCITRAPA. Linn. 
Plate DCCXT. 
Reich. Ic. Fl. Germ, et Helv. Vol. XV. Tab. DCCXCVIIL Fig. 1. 
Jiillol, Fl. Gall, et Genu. Exsiec. No. 1902. 
Biennial. Stem not winged, branched, with divaricate brandies. 
Radical- and lower stem-leaves pinnatipartite ; uppermost leaves 
dentate or entire. Anthodes subsessile, pseudo-lateral and. ter- 
minal. Pericline ovate-cylindrical, glabrous ; appendages termi- 
nating in a stout spine, longer than the pericline, channelled on 
the upper side at the base, and with 2 or 3 short spines near its 
base on each side. Florets pale purplish-rose, those of the ray- 
not longer than the fertile ones. Pappus none. 
In waste places and by roadsides. Rare, and. chiefly found 
in the South-east of England, though it has also occurred in 
Cornwall, Devon, and Somerset. Its Northern limits seem to be 
Norfolk, Cambridge, and South-east Wales. 
England. Biennial. Late Summer and Autumn. 
Radical leaves very deeply pinnatifid, with the segments distant, 
entire or toothed. Stem at first erect, terminating in an an- 
thode, immediately beneath which a proliferous branch is given off, 
which again terminates in a flower-head, and the same process 
being repeated, late in the season the anthodes appear lateral ; 
these branches are decumbent, and the ultimate ones have the 
leaves much narrower and scarcely at all pinnatifid, sometimes 
even entire. Anthodes, exclusive of the spines, f inch across ; ter- 
minal spine of the appendage \ to 1 inch long, the lateral spines very 
much shorter, 1 to 5 on each side. Achenes small, whitish marbled 
with brown, or entirely white, usually without pappus. Plant 
dull-green, at first pubescent, at length nearly glabrous. 
Star-thistle. 
French, Ceniauree C/tausse Trappe. German, Distelartige FlocJcenblnme. 
The specific name of this species is due to the resemblance of the calyx to the 
caltrops, or iron ball covered with spikes, formerly used for throwing under the horses' 
feet to lame them on a field of battle. It is a troublesome weed to agriculturists in 
certain districts, aud only to be eradicated by breaking up the ground so infested. 
