236 Class XIX. Order I. 



301. LEONTODON. 



LEONTODON TARAXACUM. L. Dandelion. 



Outer scales of the calyx reflexed ; leaves runcinate, 

 toothed, smooth. 



The leaves of this very common plant are usually cited as ex- 

 amples of the runcinate form. The supposed resemblance to a 

 lion's teeth will appear sufficiently obvious, to those who are 

 fond of tracing etymologies, in any of its names leontodon, dens 

 leonis, dent de lion, dandelion. The stalks or scapes are simple, 

 hollow, smooth, and round. Flowers single, of a bright yellow. 

 Calyx: leaves entire, the outermost bent backwards. Florets 

 ligulate, numerous. Down of the seeds on a pedicel. Peren- 

 nial. 



302. PRENANTHES. 

 PRENANTHES ALBA. L. White flowering Prenanthes. 



Calyxes many flowered ; leaves angular-hastate, 

 toothed ; flowers nodding ; racemes panicled. Wllld. 



A tall, smooth, lactescent plant, flowering in August and Sep- 

 tember. The large, radical leaves are conspicuous much ear- 

 lier in the season. They are more or less triangular or halberd 

 shaped, and lobed or toothed. The leaves of the stem are more 

 regularly ovate and toothed, the upper ones lanceolate. The 

 stem is commonly of a dark reddish colour, three or four feet 

 high. Flowers panicled, drooping ; calyx white, containing tea 

 or a dozen florets, surrounded with a dull reddish down. Woods, 

 low land, &c. Perennial. The root is intensely bitter. 



Variety /3. nana. From four to fifteen inches high. Leaves 

 successively three parted, hastate, ovate and lanceolate ; in the 

 smallest plants all simple. Racemes panicled or simple. Calyx 

 ten or twelve flowered. On the upper region of the White 

 mountains August. Mr. Little. 



No genus is more prone to vary than this. It is highly proba- 

 ble that many of the species described by Pursh are only varie- 

 ties. 



