THE LADIES’ FLOWER-GARDEN 
j>4 
C. AUREA, Lin. 
A coarse-growing plant, with a large involucre, and a small head of flowers. A native of the South of 
Europe, whence it was introduced in 1758. 
C. MACROCEPHALA, Lin. 
Another species, with yellow flowers, and very coarse weeJy-looking leaves. It is a native of Mount 
Caucasus, whence it was introduced in 1755. 
There are numerous other species, but they are seldom seen in British gardens ; and those above enumerated 
are decidedly the most ornamental. 
GENUS XXXIII. 
CNICUS, Un. THE HORSE-THISTLE. 
Lin. Syst. SYNGENESIA .45QUALIS. 
Generic Character. — Involucre veutricose, imbricate ; scales spiny, surrounded by large bracts. Florets of 
the disk and ray equal. 
Description, &c. — The genus Cnicus was established by Linnteus, and originally contained nearly all the 
ornamental Thistles ; it is now, however, reduced to one plant, the Blessed Thistle, which singularly enough was 
not placed in it by Linnaeus. The plants formerly included in the genus have been called by numerous names ; 
and in De Candolle’s Prodromus, the greater part of them are placed in the genus Circium. I have, however, 
preferred retaining the Linnaean name as being that which is best known ; and I have given only one species, as 
it is the only one I believe that is cultivated in the gardens. The name of Cnicus was that anciently applied to 
the Thistle by Dioscorides. 
l._CNICUS SPINOSISSIMUS, Linn. THE FEATHER-HEADED HORSE THISTLE. 
Synonymes. — Carduus spiuosissimus, Lam. ; Circium spinosissimus, | Specific Character — Leaves stem-clasping, sinuately pinnatifid, 
Scop. ; Carlina alba, Bauh. spiny. Flowers sessile. 
Engraving. — Bot. Mag. t. 1366. 1 
Description, &c. — This plant, though it possesses no beauty in its flowers, is extremely ornamental in a 
garden, from its feathery white bracts, which contrast strongly with its bright-purple stems, and dark-green spiny 
leaves. It is a native of the Alps of Southern Europe, whence it was introduced in 1759. When cultivated in 
gardens, it should be grown in a light sandy soil, and in an open situation. I have seen it presenting a magnifi- 
cent appearance in many gardens of Scotland, where it had plenty of room ; but in small gardens in London and 
the suburbs, it looks so badly, that no one would suppose it to be the same plant. 
2.— CNICUS AFER, Willd. THE BARBARY, OR TWIN-THORNED, THISTLE. 
Synonymes. — Cardins afer, Jacq.; C. diacantha, Labil. ; Chamse- 
peuce afra, Dec. 
ENGHAviNGs.-^Bot. Mag. t. 2287. 
Specific Character. — Leaves sessile, lanceolate, tomentose beneath, 
spreading, lobes emarginate, two-spined. Flowers pedunculate, sub- 
corymbose. Scales of the involucre lanceolate, spinous, widely-spreading. 
Description, &c. — This is an exceedingly handsome thistle, with long purple flowers rising up in the 
centre of the widely spreading starlike spines of the involucre. The leaves are studded with spines, which grow 
two or three together, spreading out like those of the Berberry. The species is a native of Barbary, whence it 
