~v* 't 
z The golden Thiftle of Peru, called in the Weft Indies, Pique del Inferno , a friend of mine 
brought it vnto mo from an Ifland there called Saintlohns Ifland, among other feeds. What rea- 
fon the inhabitants there hane to call it fo, it isvntome vnknowne, vnlefle it be becaufe of his 
fruit, which doth ranch refemble a fig in fhape and bigne(Te,but fo full of fharpe and venomous 
prickles, that whofoeuer had oneofthem in his throat, donbtleffe itvvould fend him packing ei- 
ther to heauen or to hell. This plant hath a (ingle vvooddy root as big as a mans tbumbe,bnt fom- 
vvhat long t from which avifeth a brittle ftalke full ofioyntsor knees, diniding it felfe into fimdry 
other fmall branches, fet full of leaues like vnto the milke Thiftle, but much fmaller, and ftraked 
with many white lines or ftreakes : and at the topofthe ftalkscome forth faire and goodly yellow 
flourcs, very like vnto the fea Poppy, but more elegant, and of greater beauty, hauing in the midft 
thereof 
Of theHiftory of Plants. 
1155 
Chap.^So. Of (j olden Thijlles. 
The Dcfcription. 
i He ftalkes of Golden Thiftle rife vp forthwith from the root, being many, round, and 
* branched. The leaues are long, ofa beautifull green, with deepe gafhes ori the edges, 
and fet with moft fharpe prickles: the floures come from the bolome of the leaues, fet in a fca.ie 
chaffie knap, very like to Succorie floures, but of colour as yellow as gold : in their places comevp 
broad flat and thin feeds, not great, nor wrapped indowne : the root is long.a finger thicke,fwcet, 
fofr,and good to be eaten, wherewith fwine are much delighted : there ilfueth forth of this thiftle 
in what part foeueritis cut or broken, a iuyee as white as milke. 
f There is fome varietieof this Thiftle ; for it is found much larger about Montpelier than it 
is in S paine, with longer branches, but fewer floures : the leaues alfo are fpotted or (freaked with 
white like as the milke Thiftle : whence Clttfius , whom I here follow, hath giuen two figures there- 
of; the former by the name of Scolqmm Thenphrafli H/fpanicus ; and the other by the title of Scoljmta 
T heopkrafli Narbonenfts.lhii with white fpots I favv growing this yerewith W.TradefcantaX South 
Lambeth, f 
I C.irihtus Chrjf.inthcni'is HijpanicuSt f CorcCuus cbrqfuntbemtis N arbonenfie . 
The Spaniih golden Thiftle. The French golden Thiftle. 
