torn leaves. Bat its eflential generic 
character is-, that the receptaculum, 
refembles a honey-comb, except that 
the cells are quadrangular, and the 
fcales of the calyx ftand open, and 
are (harp pointed. The receptaculum 
and the young (hoots peeled and 
boiled may be eaten like artichokes. 
That Thiftle about two feet high, Car. 
with a purple flower, whofe decurrent duus ' 
leaves terminate in a long (harp fpine, 
is the Spear-thiftle. It is the Carduus 
lanceolatm of Linnaeus. By this fpear 
you will eafily diftinguifh it. The ef- 
fential character of the genus Carduus 
is: Calyx oval, imbricated, with fpinous 
fcales : Receptaculum hairy. 
That other plant with pale purple Serra- 
fmall flowers, which you would na- iula ' 
turally call a thiftJe, is according to 
Linnaeus, not a Carduus, but a Ser- 
ratula. It differs from a Carduus, in 
the receptaculum being fub-cylindri- 
cal, and not fpinous. It is the Ser- 
ratula arvenfis-, in Englifh, Corn-fa w- 
wort, 
