-2.6 The VEGETABLE SYSTEM. 
way of duft and accidents, m-any perfons have flopped to look at it 
with wonder ; and have thought, as all others would have thought if 
it had been brought from abroad, that it was one of the firfl in beauty 
of the Exotics. 
The Leaves are of a deep green, veined and blotched with a pure 
milk white, in the manner of the finefl marbles. They are of a vaft 
fize ; the Stalk in the midft is as thick as a child’s arm ; the 
Flowers which crown it in vaft multitudes, are very large, and of 
a fine ftrong crimfon. Their Cups are green, and formed with an 
uncommon greatnefs and elegance, very far exceeding all other 
Thiftles. 
’Tis faid the Seeds of this Plant will cure Cancers ; and great names 
authorize the account : but I have tried, and found them ineffectual. 
This is not a place for difquifitions on the virtues of Plants, we are 
concerned here only with their forms ; in the fucceeding natural 
method their qualities are to be examined ; but matters of great im- 
portance ftiould not be pafted over here : and ’tis next to recom- 
mending a ufeful medicine,- to caution againft a dependance on fuch 
as will deceive. 
GENUS 11. 
STAR THISTLE. 
I. C A‘ L C I T R A P A. 
The Scales of the Cup have fide fpines only near their 
bafe. 
VARIOUS LEAVED STAR THISTLE. 
Plate 17: Fig. i. 
Star Thistle. 
'Character of the Species. Centaurca Calcitrapa^ 
The lower Leaves are pinnatifid, and the upper only 
ferrated. 
Fig. \. a Im 
This is an Annual, native of our wafte grounds and way-fides, 
and 
