AND PAPPUb 



Pappus, the Seed-down, is restrained by Gaertnei 

 to the chaffy, feathery, or bristly crown of many seeds 

 that have no Pericarpium^ and which originates from a 

 partial calyx crooning the summit of each of those 

 seeds, and remaining after the flower is fallen. In. 

 stances of this are the feathery appendages to the seedti 

 of Dandelion, Engl. Bot. t. 510, and Goat's-beard, t. 

 434, in which the part in quistion is elevated on a 

 footstalk, (113) / 204. In Carduus, t. 973 — 6, it is 

 sessile, though stili feather\ ; but in Chicorium, t. 

 539, it consists of mere chaffy teeth, more clearly 

 evincing its affinity to a Calyx. In Scabiosa it is 

 double. \n Bidens, t. 1113, 1114, the Pappus is 

 formed of 2, 3, or 4 rigid barbed bristles. The 

 use of this organ is evidently to transport seeds to a 

 distance from their native spot, either by resigning 

 thejn to the power of the wind, or by attaching them 

 to the shaggy coats of animals. 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 

 country ; which has not escaped the notice of poets. 



The same term is used by the generality of botanists 

 for the feathery crown of seeds furnished with a cap- 

 sule, as Epilobium, t. 1177, Asclepias Cynanchum, 

 &c., Gartn. t. 117, as well as for a similar appendage 

 to the base or sides of any seeds, as Salix, Engl. Bot. 

 t. 183, 1403, Eriophorum, t. 873, &c., neither oi 



1^113) [And hence denominated atipitate or /ledicelled.'] 



