GALACTITES (from gala, galaktos, milk; in allusion to the veins of the leaves being milk-white). ORD. Compositae. A genus of hardy annual or biennial erect herbs, nearly allied to Cnicus, from which it differs chiefly in the outer florets of the flower-head being sterile and larger than the others, as in Centaurea. Leaves pinnatifid, with spiny - pointed segments, spotted with white above, and covered with cotton-down below. There are three species, all inhabiting the Mediterranean region. They thrive in any common garden soil, and may be propagated by seed, sown in the flower border, in March or April. The species here described is the one best known to cultivation. GALACTITES tomentosa (woolly). fl.-heads purple, pedunculate. July. h. 1 1/2ft. 1738. This species is remarkable among the thistles for having a milky juice, similar to that so frequently found in the Chicory group.