300 OF THE PAPPUS, 



flower is fallen. Instances of this are the 

 feathery appendages to the seeds of Dan- 

 delion, Engl. Bot. t. 510, and GoatVbeard, 

 t. 434, in which the part in question is 

 elevated on a footstalk. In Carduus, 

 t- 973 — 6, it is sessile, though still feathery ; 

 but in Cichoriam, t. 539 ? it consists of 

 mere chaffy teeth, more clearly evincing 

 its affinity to a Calyx. In Scabiosa it is 

 double. In Bidens, t. 1113, 1114, the 

 Pappus is formed of 2, 3 or 4 rigid barbed 

 bristles. The use of this organ is evi- 

 dently to transport seeds to a distance 

 from their native spot, either by resigning 

 them to the power of the wind, or by at- 

 taching them to the shaggy coats of ani- 

 mals. In due time the feathery crown 

 separates, and leaves the seed behind it, 

 which happens sooner with the Thistle 

 than most other plants. Hence the vacant 

 down of that genus is frequently seen 

 wafted in light masses over a whole coun- 

 try ; which has not escaped the notice of 

 poets. 



The same term is used by the generality 

 of botanists for the feathery crown of 



