COMPOSITE. 117 



both these cases, notched or toothed ; ovary Inferior, with a single 

 style usually forked into 2 stigmas ; florets often have chaffy, or 

 scaly, or hairy bracts at their base, generally perfect and monocli- 

 nous, but a few are diclinous ; leaves alternate or opposite, com- 

 monly simple. 



Great numbers of this order occur in this State, and are spread 

 over the world. In France and Germany, they form about one 

 eighth of the flowering plants ; in North America one sixth, and 

 between the tropics nearly one half. Humboldt. Many of this order 

 have valuable properties, while a great proportion of them have 

 not yet been applied to any useful purpose. Their flowers form 

 much of the beauty of the later summer and autumn, and for this 

 reason many are cultivated. 



The order is distinguished into 3 families or subdivisions, by 

 Lindley, and variously subdivided by other authors. It may not 

 be necessary for this survey, to follow any subdivisions. 



Arctium. L. 17. 1. 



•^. lappa. L. Burdock. A well-known plant in waste 

 grounds, indigenous to Britain, whence it was introduced into this 

 country. It has its name from the Greek, meaning a bear, on ac- 

 count of its rough fruit, and its specific name from the Celtic, a 

 hand, because its fruit lays hold of all that comes in contact with 

 it. It is a dock-hke looking plant, and, from its burs, is appropri- 

 ately called Burdock. Its leaves have been a common applica- 

 tion among the people for draughts upon the feet, and the soften- 

 ing of some tumors. Its leaves, soon after flowering, contain a 

 large proportion of potash. 



Leontodon. L. 17. 1. 



L. taraxacum. L. Dandelion. Another common plant 

 about houses, and over fields, introduced from Britain. The 

 leaves are radical, and cut into segments or large teeth standing 

 backwards like the teeth of the lion, whence its name, from the 

 two Greek words of this signification ; the English name is a cor- 

 ruption of the French, and has the same meaning. Used as a 

 diuretic. The extract has obtained some reputation in medicine. 

 In the spring, the herbage is often used for greens, as it is pleasant 



