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CARDUUS marianus.
M ilk Thiftle.
SYNGENESIS Polygamia eeqtlalis.
G en. Char. Cal. fwelling, imbricated with fpinous
fcales. Recept. hairy. Down deciduous.
Spec. Char. Leaves clafping the ftem, waved, fpinous
; the radical ones pinnatifid. Calyx-fcales
leafy, bent backward, fpinous at the edge.
Syn. Carduus marianus. Linn. Sp. PL 1153. Sm.
FI. Brit. 851. Hudf. 353. With. 700. Hull.
179. Relh. 306. Silth. 246. Abbot. 176. Curt.
Lond.fafc. 3. t. 54.
C. Mariae. Rail Syn. 195.
I f the idea of a thiftle were not an impediment, this magnificent
plant might be allowed with advantage to ornament fuch
gardens or borders of fhrobberies as are on a fufficiently large
fcale to admit it. In general, however, notwithftanding its
beauty, it can only be confidered as a cumbrous weed.
Wherever it grows it effectually excludes all other vegetables;
but, being eatily eradicated, is only permitted to eftablifh itfelf
on banks by road-fides, and fimilar fpots, where the flowers
are feen about June or July.
The root is tap-fhaped and annual. Stem ereCt, widely
branching, fmooth, 4 or 5 feet high. Radical leaves many,
fpreading, pinnatifid; the reft clafping the ftem with their
heartfhaped bafe; all waved finuated and fpinous at the edge,
of a deep finning green, elegantly marbled all along the veins
with white, which botanifts and phyficians of the dark ages
report to have been caufed by the milk of the Virgin Mary
falling upon a plant of this fpecies, and that all its progeny
have retained the bleffed ftain. There is however a refraCtory
heretical variety found near London whofe leaves remain entirely
green. The large purple flowers grow folitary at the
end of each branch. Their calyx is fmoth, confifting of broad
Jeaf-like fcales, each terminating in a long reflexed ftrong thorn,
fringed at its bafe with fmaller fpines. Seeds large and poliftied.