COMPOS IT M. 5 
Stem 1 to 4 feet high, not winged, sulcatc. Leaves (botli 
the radical ones and those of the stem) generally deeply sinuated. 
Perioline ovate-globular, 1 to 2 inches across, with rather numerous 
large green phyllarics, the exterior ones with spreading appendages 
often 1 inch long, with the edges fimbriate-spinous, and the strong 
central nerve excurrent into a yellowish spine. Flowers purplish- 
crimson. Achcnes J inch long or more, black, often marbled witli 
grey, lincly transversely rugose. Pappus much longer than the 
achene, of pure white hairs, with very short hairs upon them. 
Leaves light-green, shining, conspicuously veined with white above. 
Milk- Thistle. 
French, Silybe Chardon Marie. German, Gemeine Mariendistel. 
This beautiful plant, with its deep glossy green leaves and milk-white veins, is 
not unworthy of cultivation in the shrubbery or garden. In the days of monkish 
superstition, the milky veins were said to have originated in the milk of the Virgin 
Mary having fallen on them as she nursed the infant Jesus; hence it was called the 
"Holy Thistle," and " Our Lady's Thistle ;" and the Latin name of the plant has the 
same derivation. " Dioscorides affirmed that the seeds being drunke are a remedy for 
infants that have their sinews drawn together, and for those that be bitten of 
serpents;" and we find in a record of old Saxon remedies, that "this wort if hung 
upon a man's neck it setteth snakes to flight." The stalks of the Milk-Thistle, like 
those of most of our larger Thistles, may be eaten, and are both palatable and nutritious. 
Tt is called pig -leaves in some country districts. 
GENUS III.—Q A R D U U S. Linn. 
Periclinc of numerous imbricated entire phyllarics, often 
spinous at the summit, not scarious at the margin nor appendi- 
culate. Florets all equal, regular, perfect, or sub-unisexual and 
sub-dioecious by abortion. Filaments free, hairy or denticulate; 
anthers prolonged at the apex into a linear-subulate scarious 
appendage. Achcnes oblong-ovoid, laterally compressed, without 
raised lines; epigynous disk surrounded by an entire border; 
pappus caducous, formed of rough or jnumose hairs, arranged in 
several rows and united into a ring at the base. Clinanth not 
pitted, hairy. 
Herbs, often biennial. Leaves often spinous at the margins, 
and frequently decurrent on the stem. Pericline usually large, 
sub-globose or ovoid. Flowers purple or crimson, varying to 
white, rarely dull-yellow. 
The derivation of the name of this genus of plants is difficult to dete- mine. By 
some authors it is supposed to come from ytvou) (cheuro), a technical v< rb denoting 
the operation of carding wool, to which process the heads of some of tl 3 species arc 
applicable. 
