BRITISH WILD FLOWERS. 
211 
* 
THE WOOLLY-HEADED PLUME-THISTLE. (C. eriophorus, Willd.) 
This is a very strong-growing robust species, which is found on the roadsides, and in waste places on the 
chalk and lime-stone districts. It is a biennial, and produces its large heads of purple flowers in July and 
August. 
There are several other species of this genus, but they bear so much resemblance to each other as to seem 
not to require any separate description. 
GENUS XXYIII. 
THE CARLINE THISTLE. (Carlina, Lin.) 
Lin. Syst. SYNGENESIA iEQUALIS. 
Generic Character. —Involucrutn imbricated; the outer scales and resembling radiant florets. Receptacle paleaceous; pale* split 
sinuated, spiny, spreading at the points; the inner generally simple into bristle-like segments. Pappus feathery. (Dec.) 
and acute ; the innermost much longer, scarious, ligulate, coloured, 
Description, &c. —There is only one British species in this genus (C. vulgaris) ; a curious-looking plant, 
with yellow flowers, so closely resembling in their texture those flowers called Everlasting, as to be frequently 
mistaken for them. The Carline Thistle is a biennial, and flowers in June and July. It is common on dry, 
sandy, or chalky soils, and it is generally found growing under the shelter of heath or furze. The name of 
Carlina is a diminutive of Charles ; and it is said to have been given to this plant in honour of Charlemagne, 
to whom an angel pointed out one of the species, telling him that it would cure his army of the plague. 
GENUS XXIX. 
THE BURDOCK. (Lappa, Tourn.) 
Lin. Syst. SYNGENESIA ^QUALIS. 
Generic Character. —Involucrutn imbricated; scales ending in a soft spine hooked at the end. Receptacle paleaceous. Pappus short, 
persistent, with rigid, unequal hairs. (Dec.) 
Description, &c. —There are only two British species of this genus, or, according to some botanists, only 
one, as the other kind appears to be only a variety. The common Burdock, or Clot-Bur ( L. glabra) is 
common in neglected meadows, and on road-sides in every part of Great Britain ; and it is well known, not for 
the beauty of its flowers, but for its curious seed-vessels, which are so closely covered with hooked scales, that 
they stick to everything that touches them. The plant is a biennial, and it flowers in July and August. Lappa 
has the same signification as the English name. 
GENUS XXX. 
THE MILK, THISTLE. (Silybum, Vaillant.) 
Lin. Syst. SYNGENESIA ^IQUALIS. 
Generic Character. —Involucrum imbricated ; scales leafy at the base, closely pressing upon each other, spreading and spiny at the points. 
Receptacle paleaceous. Pappus between hairy and paleaceous, deciduous ; the hairs connected in a ring at the base. (Lindley.) 
Description, &c. —The only species of this genus which is a native of Britain is S. Marianum , the 
common Milk Thistle, which is sometimes also called Our Lady’s Thistle or the Holy Thistle. The flowers are 
e e 2 
