Part 37

The leaf is long, and narrow, tapering to a long point, with a large, stout, and curling midrib; the margin is deeply, and often cut, and armed at every point by strong, stiff, thorn-like spines. The texture is tough, and the upper surface is prickly, while the under is woolly with web-like hairs. The leaf clasps the stalk, and hugs it for a full inch or more before it springs away with a free curve; the lobes are ruffled, and flaring, as they lie along the stalk. The arrangement is alternate, and rather near together. The color is green, lighter at the midrib.

The flowers are small and silky; in color a beautiful deep crimson, tending toward violet. Many flowers are gathered into a large round-topped head, that is held in an admirably shaped green cup, which is protected by many, long, needle-pointed, white spines. One or two flower-heads occur together on the summit of the stalk, or branch. Their perfume is delicious.

This might well be named the Warrior Thistle, being armed cap-a-pie for conflict with cows and boys, and nearly impregnable against them. It loves to sit beside a boulder in the midst of cow-path, or bye-lane, and defy intercourse with any, save the bumble-bees, who sleep upon the silken flower o’ nights. Special observation should be given to the classic vase-shape of the cup.

*Pasture Thistle.* Cnicus pumilus. *Bull Thistle.*

Found in dry pastures, uplands, roadsides, during July and August.

The erect, and somewhat branching, stalk varies from 1 to 3 feet in height; it is sparingly leafy, very large, and stout of fibre, and round; hairy to the touch. Color, green.

The leaf is long, and narrow, with a stout midrib; the margin is cut frequently but not deeply, each joint being tipped with a spine that is not so long as those of the Common Thistle; the texture is strong-fibred, the upper surface rather smooth, the underside covered with cobwebby hairs. The color, green. The leaf somewhat clasps the stalk; and the arrangment is alternate, at some distance apart.

The silky flowers are crimson-purple, less strong in tone than the Common Thistle; spreading softly, in a large, rounded, downy head, from the large cup. The cup is a fine urn-shape, closely covered with short prickles; green in color; with a few small leaves at the base. One to three flower heads rise from the summit of the stalk, or branches.

Larger (the flower-head is often nearly two inches across), but less ferociously equipped than the Warrior Thistle, this carries a sweeter perfume, and is the beloved of the bees. Especially is the flower-head lovely in color.

*Canada Thistle.* Cnicus arvensis.

Found, during July and August, in lanes and fields.

The stalk is branching, and leafy, and from 2 to 3 feet in height; it is large, tough in fibre, and grooved. Its color is grayish-green.

The leaf is narrow, and sharp-pointed, the margin deeply notched, and much ruffled, and bristling in all directions and from every notch with short, sharp spines; the strong midrib is lighter in color than the grayish-green leaf. The leaves, set immediately upon the stalk, are alternately placed.

The small tubular flowers are 5-pointed, and the thread-like stamens and pistils are prominent; their color is lavender, while the stamens and pistils are white. They are gathered into tufted heads, enclosed in a gray-green vase-shaped cup, that is protected by short weak prickles; they grow in loose, branching clusters on the top of the plant.

This Thistle grows in great communities, spreading rapidly, and justly considered a pest by the farmer. The mass of its lavender colored bloom in its prime is pleasing to the eye, but later it develops an unkempt and weedy aspect, more befitting its character of an unwelcome tramp. Its flowers are sweet scented, and much sought by bees and butterflies.

*Spiny-leaved Sow Thistle.* Sonchus asper.

Found in cultivated fields, and along roadsides, in August.

The stalk is either simple, or branching near the top, from 2 to 3 or 4 feet high, large, round, and very hollow like a tube, and juicy; it is grooved, and smooth to the touch. The color is green, sometimes streaked with red near the foot.

The leaf is very long (sometimes 10 inches), lance-shaped with a tapering point, and noticeable rounded wing-like bases; the margin is deeply and irregularly toothed, and the edge is rolled under, thus making the teeth sharp-pointed, and stiff, like little spines; the midrib is prominent beneath, wide, flat, and pale above; underneath many veins show; the texture is thin, and the surface is smooth. The upper side is a cool clear green, the underside silvery, with a pale bloom. It is clasping, the prolonged bases flaring like wings on either side of the stalk.

The flowers are tiny and downy; light yellow in color; gathered in a flat-topped head (which is less than an inch across), enclosed in a small vase-shaped, green, and leafy cup. The heads are set on slender stems, in loose terminal groups, or singly on short leafy stems from the angles of the leaves; at the junction of these foot-stems small, oval leaves occur.

Nothing could be more suggestive of decorative design than the fine arch and spring of this leaf, with its ornamental winged clasps; and its refinement of color is an added excellence. The highly inappropriate folk-name (it is said to be a favorite article of diet among the English swine) should be abolished, and the plant called instead The Gothic Thistle in memory of a school who could appreciate its sculptural significance better than the moderns.

*Common Sow Thistle.* Sonchus oleraceus.

Found in fields, and cultivated lands in August.

The stalk varies in height from 1 to 4 feet; it is single, and leafy, somewhat twisting, tougher in fibre than S. asper, hollow, with a milky juice, and smooth. Color, a cool green.

The curiously cut leaf (about 6 inches long) is divided into a large triangular tip, a pair of acute-angled flaring side divisions, and narrow long-pointed bases which project like sharp-pointed wings beyond the stalk they clasp. Occasional leaves are not cut, and are merely lance-shaped. The midrib is flat above, and round beneath; the margin is toothed, with fine, weak spines; the texture is firm, and the surface is smooth and shining. Color, a fine cool green, the underside silvery with bloom. The arrangement is alternate.

The flowers are similar in color, size, and arrangement to S. asper. The foot-stems are sometimes bristly with short hairs, and at their junction occurs a long-pointed, small leaf, whose margin is entire. Below the flower-cluster the stalk is bare for a considerable space; single flower-heads spring from the angles of the leaves the greater part of its height.

The immature flower-heads are wrapped in a woolly blanket. The leaf is something like a Dandelion’s in shape, and interesting from a decorative point of view. These plants are said to be common to many countries,--Europe, Africa, and New Zealand. In the last-named region an old traveller says the parrots “of beauteous dyes, but odious accents” feed upon it.

*Chicory.* Cichorium Intybus. *Succory.* *Blue Sailors.*