The leaues of this kinde of smooth thistle (as it is accounted) are almost as large as the leaues of the Artichoke, but not so sharp pointed, very deeply cut in and gashed on both edges, of a sad green & shining colour on the vpperside, and of a yellowish green vnderneath, with a great thicke rib in the middle, which spread themselues about the root, taking vp a great deale of ground. After this plant hath stood long in one place, and well defended from the iniury of the cold, it sendeth forth from among the leaues one or more great and strong stalkes, three or foure foote high, without any branch at all, bearing from the middle to the top many flowers one aboue another, spike-fashion round about the stalke, with smaller but not diuided greene leaues at euery flower, which is white, and fashioned somewhat like vnto a gaping mouth; after which come broad, flat, thicke, round, brownish yellow seede (as I haue well obserued by them haue beene sent me out of Spaine, and which haue sprung vp, and doe grow with me; for in our Countrey I could neuer obserue any seede to haue growne ripe) the rootes are composed of many great and thicke long strings, which spread farre in and vnder the ground, somewhat darkish on the outside, and whitish within, full of a clammy moisture (whereby it sheweth to haue much life) and doe endure our Winters, if they be not too much exposed to the sharpe violence thereof, which then it will not endure, as I haue often found by experience.
2. Acanthus siluestris. Wilde or prickly Beares breech.
This prickly Thistle hath diuers long greenish leaues lying on the ground, much narrower then the former, but cut in on both sides, thicke set with many white prickes and thornes on the edges: the stalke riseth not vp so high, bearing diuers such like thornie leaues on them, with such a like head of flowers on it as the former hath: but the seede hereof (as it hath come to vs from Italy and other places, for I neuer saw it beare seed here in this Country) is blacke and round, of the bignesse of a small pease: the roote abideth reasonable well, if it be defended somewhat from the extremity of our Winters, or else it will perish.
3. Eryngium Pannonicum siue Montanum. Hungary Sea Holly.
The lower leaues of this Thistle that lye on the ground, are somewhat large, round, and broad, hard in handling, and a little snipt about the edges, euery one standing vpon a long foote-stalke: but those that growe vpon the stalke, which is stiffe, two or three foote high, haue no foote-stalke, but encompasse it, two being set at euery ioynt, the toppe whereof is diuided into diuers branches, bearing small round rough heads, with smaller and more prickly leaues vnder them, and more cut in on the sides then those belowe: out of these heads rise many blew flowers, the foote-stalkes of the flowers, together with the toppes of the branches, are likewise blew and transparent, or shining.
Flore albo.
We haue another of this kinde, the whole toppes of the stalkes with the heads and branches, are more white then blew: the seede contained in these heads are white, flat, and as it were chaffie: the roote is great and whitish, spreading farre into many branches, and somewhat sweete in taste, like the ordinary Sea Holly rootes.
| 1 | Acanthus sativus. Garden Beares breech. |
| 2 | Acanthus siluetris. Wilde Beares breech. |
| 3 | Eryngium Pannonicum. Mountaine Sea Holly. |
| 4 | Carlina humilis. The lowe Carline Thistle. |
| 5 | Carduus sphærocephalus maior. The greater Globe-Thistle. |
| 6 | Carduus sphærocephalus minor. The lesser Globe-Thistle. |
| 7 | Carduus Eriocephalus. The Friers crowne. |
| 8 | Fraxinella. Bastard Dittanie. |