ONLY A THISTLE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XL, Issue 9190, 18 September 1891, Page 4

ONLY A THISTLE.

In popular opinion only Scotchmen and donkeys are fond of thistles ; but, if so, we must say they show very good taste. Among hardy plants there are few finer subjects in; point of foliage or flower than some common thistles. - There are few more beautiful plants than the musk thistle, Carduus,mttans ; while the larger spear thistle, G. Lanceolatus and C. eriophorus, are really noble plants. C. Marianiis too, with its spotted leaves stained with drops from the Virgin's milk, according to the Catholio legend, is a grand plant for the back rows of the herbaceous border. The cotton thistle, Onopordon acanthium, is another stately plant, with its foliage densely covered with cottony hairs. It appears that no authentic information relating to the use of the thistle as a badge or emblem is known prior to 1488 — the story of the Danes attempting to invade a Scottish camp in the night, and pricking their feet with the thistles to such an extent that they were forced to cry out and so reveal their presence, having no foundation. The historical evidence is that the thistle was first used as the badge of Scotland by King James IV. In 1514 James V, placed the representation of the thistle on his coins. James VI. added the proud motto, "Nemo me impune lacessit." In Scotland Onopordon acanthium is generally accepted as the plant ; but it is curious to find from Mr. Lees, who quotes Dr. Johnson, that " initiated gardeners " understood milk thistle — Carduus Marianm — to be the true plant, and that they therefore (why '" therefore"?) usually stuck the heads of the latter on the strong spines of the' Onopordon or cotton thistle. It is doubtful whether • either tho one or the other of the plants ' named is a -genuine native of Scotland. — Gardener s* Chronicle. . ■ s