COMPOSITE FAMILY 



Chicory is a waif from the Far East. The name is 

 clearly derived from the Arabic Chicourey. Another 

 common name, Succory, is referred to the Latin suc- 

 curere, to run under, in reference to the strong tap- 

 root which penetrates deep. 



HARE'S LETTUCE. COMMON SOW-THISTLE. 



MILK-THISTLE 



Sdnchus olerdceus 



A tall, usually single-stemmed annual, from one to 

 five feet high, with large, spiny leaves, and pale yellow 

 fiower-heads; found everywhere in fields. Along road- 

 ways and fence rows. Naturalized from Europe. May- 

 November. 



Stem. — Stout, hollow, succulent, smooth, grooved, 

 leafy below, nearly simple. 



Leaves. — Alternate; large, decorative, basal and lower 

 leaves petioled, lyrate-pinnatifid, the terminal segment, 

 large and triangular, irregularly toothed with wavy mar- 

 gins edged with soft, weak spines. Upper leaves pinnat- 

 ifid, clasping by an eared or arrow-shaped base and the 

 uppermost often lanceolate and entire. 



Flower-heads. — Ligulate-composite, that is, all florets 

 strap-shaped or ray-florets. Pale yellow, three-fourths to 

 an inch and a quarter across, borne in loose corymbose 

 clusters, either terminal or axillary. Involucre bracts 

 green, slightly united at base; involucre becoming thick- 

 ened and conic at base when old. Receptacle flat, naked. 

 Pappus abundant, white, silky. 



This is one of the tall, leafy vagabonds of the way- 

 side. In fact, there are three of them, brothers, 

 distinguishable principally by their clothes, although 

 these differ only in minor particulars. One, Sdnchus 



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