a well known weed in corn-fields. In Britain there are eight species of thistles according to the vulgar arrangement; the carduus lanceolatus or spear-thistle, the nutans or milk-thistle, the pratensis or marsh thistle, the marianus or milk-thistle, acanthoides or welted-thistle, crispus or curled-thistle, onopordum acanthium or cotton-thistle, ferratula arvensis or corn-thistle. All these, except the last, are annual or biennial, and therefore may be easily destroyed by cutting them down before their seed ripens; but the ferratula arvensis is perennial, continues in the earth increasing and throwing up new shoots every year. Mr Curtis ascertained the annual increase of its root, by planting in a garden a piece of the root two inches long and about the thickness of a goose's quill, and a small head of leaves. By the 2d of November the root had extended itself eight feet, and when dug and washed it weighed four pounds.
As to the uses of the thistle, they are not well known. The corn-thistle is eaten by the ants, and formerly was pulled with great care by the farmers in some parts of Scotland as food for their horses. For a botanical description of the different kinds of thistle, see Carduus, Cactus, Dipsas, Onopordum, Serratula, Sonchus.
Order of the Thistle, or of St Andrew, a military order of knighthood in Scotland, the rise and institution of which is variously related by different authors. Leffey bishop of Ro's reports, that the night before the battle between Athelstan king of Northumberland and Humrus king of the Picts, a bright cross, in form of that whercon St Andrew (the tutelar saint of Scotland) suffered martyrdom, appeared to Humrus; who having gained the victory, ever after bore the figure of that cross on his banners. Others assert, that Achaius king of Scotland first instituted this order, after having made the famous league offensive and defensive with Charlemagne king of France. But although the thistle had been acknowledged as the symbol of the kingdom of Scotland from the reign of Achaius, yet... some refer the beginning of this order to Charles VII. of France. Others place the foundation of it as low as the year 1500.
The chief and principal ensign is a gold collar composed of thistles and sprigs of rue interlinked with amulets of gold, having pendent thereto the image of St Andrew with his crois, and the motto, *Nemo me impune lacesset*. "No body shall provoke me with impunity."
The ordinary or common ensign worn by the knights is a star of four silver points, and over them a green circle, bordered and lettered with gold, containing the said motto, and in the centre is a thistle; all which is embroidered on their left breast, and worn with the collar, with a green ribbon over the left shoulder, and brought under the right arm; pendent thereto is the image of St Andrew, with his crois, in a purple robe, within an oval of gold enamelled vert, with the former motto; but sometimes they wear, encircled in the same manner, a thistle crowned.
About the time of the Reformation, this order was dropped, till James II. of Great Britain resumed it, by creating eight knights. The Revolution unfettered it again; and it lay neglected, till queen Anne, in 1703, restored it to the primitive design, of twelve knights of St Andrew.