408 LXXVIII, composite. (J. D. Hooker.) [ Lactuea, 
Comp. Ind. 267. Chondrilla hastata, Wall. Cat. 3217.. Sonchus robustus and 
hastatus, Wall. Cat. 3249, 3250. S. Cyanus, Don Prodr. 164. Mulgedium 
cyaneum and robustum, DC. J. c. 249, 250, M. nilgherryense, Wight Ic. t. 1144. 
Melanoseris paniculata, Edgew. in Trans. Linn. Soc. xx. 80. 
TEMPERATE HIMALAYA ; from Kashmir to Sikkim, alt. 4-12,000 ft. Kurasra Mrs. ; 
alt. 5-6000 ft. Nrrangnny Mrs. 
One of the tallest and most robust species, 4-7 ft. high, but occurring in dwarf 
and slender forms, from perfectly glabrous to glandular-hispid all over, the latter in 
western specimens. Leaves sometimes a foot long and 4-6 in. broad, of various shapes, 
rarely large and runcinate-pinnatifid, petiole sometimes a foot long. Inflorescence very 
various; the heads usually subracemose or the branches of contracted or spreading 
panicles, sometimes as narrow as in L. graciliflora, but this is rare; ligules blue 
purple or dark red. Achenes very uniform, 1 in. long including the beak, quite flat, 
irregularly ribbed, dark brown, suddenly contracted into a brown cleft tip in which 
the white beak is seated; pappus } in., very deciduous, dirty-white, outer ring of 
bristles distinct. 
SEcr. V. Perennial tuberous rooted herbs, with soft ascending stems and 
branches and very membranous pinnate or pinnatifid leaves that are scarcely, if 
at all, toothed, Heads terminating the branches, pendulous, narrow ; peduncles 
ebracteate; invol. bracts few, outer gradually longer: ligules blue or purple, 
Achenes smooth ; pappus deciduous, 
15. L. macrorhiza, Mook. f.; glabrous or sparsely villous, branches 
many from the root ascending long or short (sometimes reduced to a 1-headed 
scape) soft terete leafy irregularly divided above, leaves membranous linear or 
elongate obovate pinnatifid or pinnate upper sometimes entire, pinnules or lobes 
usually numerous oblong-orbicular quite entire, petiole quite simple or dilated 
or winged with a very broad orbicular entire or toothed auricle, heads A-Z in. 
long terminating the branches peduncled drooping or inclined 6-16-fld., outer 
invol. bracts lanceolate very much shorter than the 6-10 linear-oblong inner, 
achenes flat elliptic-lanceolate smooth narrowed into a white beak 2 the length 
of the body, pappus silky white. L, levigata, Clarke Comp. Ind. 269. L. Hoff- 
meisteri, Klotzsch in Reise Pr. Waldem. Bot. 81, t. 80. Mulgedium levigatum, 
DC. Prodr. vii. 249. M. macrorhizum, Royle Ill. 951, t. 61 ; DC. Prodr. vii. 
251. Prenanthes levigata, Wall. Cat, 3950. ` Melanoseris saxatilis, aen, in 
Trans. Linn. Soc. xx, 72. 
TEMPERATE HIMALAYA ; from Kashmir to Sikkim, alt. 6—106,000 ft. 
From 3 in, to 3 ft. high, in some Alpine forms reduced to a few leaves 2-3 in. long 
and one or more 1- or few-headed scapes; in its largest state the stems are as thick 
as a goose quill. Leaves excessively variable, usually narrow and pinnate with a 
slender rachis, sometimes reduced to a single orbicular oblong ovate cordate or hastate 
lobe, upper sessile with auricled bases, lower petioled; petiole simple and slender or 
winged, the wing sheathing at the base or dilated into a large orbicular toothed lobe 
clasping the stem. Heads from clabrous to densely villous, irrespective of the altitude 
at which the plant grows or its other characters; ligules blue or purple, large for the 
size of the head. Achenes 1-1 in. including the slender beak, about 5-ribbed on either 
face, almost black; pappus equalling the achene, deciduous, outer inconspicuous. 
16. L. Lessertiana, Clarke Comp, Ind. 270; perennial, glabrous or 
laxly villous, stem short stout (or 0) leafy simple or branched from the base, 
leaves very variable elongate oblanceolate and entire or shorter sinuate-toothed 
or pinnatifid acute, margins and lobes subentire, petiole 0 or simple at the base, 
heads } in. long subcylindric or campanulate 12-24-fld. terminating the branches 
or subpaniculate erect or drooping black glabrous or villous, outer invol. bracts 
few linear or 0, inner linear-oblong obtuse, achenes flattened elliptic or oblanceo- 
late suddenly narrowed into a stout pale beak, pappus shorter than the achene. 
