5 o The VEGETABLE SYSTEM. 
GENUS VI. 
E G G W E E D. 
G U N D E L I A. 
Chara&er of the Genus. 
The Head is egg-fhaped. The general Cup is leafy, and 
fhorter than the Head, and is defended by a circlet of 
perfect Leaves beneath. 
Plate 22. o.abc. 
Of this Genus vve know only one Species. 
THORNY EGG WEED. 
Plate 22. 
Character of the Species. Gundelia Tournofertii. 
The Leaves are pinnatifid, and their Edges thorny. 
Fig. 22. a b. 
This is a biennial, native of Syria and Armenia ; a moft lingular and 
elegant Plant, flowering in June. It grows to a foot and a half high. 
The Stalk is thick, firm, and high rib’d, of a reddifh brown, and not 
much branched. The Leaves are of a ftrong and fine green on the 
upper fide, and paler underneath j and they are edged with tolerably firm 
Thorns of the colour of the Stalk. The Flowers arecrimfon; and 
the whole Head, though white at firfi, acquires by degrees that 
colour. 
This Plant, in the order of nature, joins Dipfacus and Eryngium; 
and Ihews how little regard in the true arrangement of Plants, is to be 
paid to the diftindtions of artificial Clafles. 
Here it is neceflary to place the Plants together under arbitrary 
fchetnesj and though we know that the nearer they Hand to the juft or- 
der of nature, the better, yet we cannot but often divide them. We 
have faid in the Introduction to this our artificial method, that it is 
ckftined to the mere knowledge of Plants as we fee them ; and that in 
the 
