Cynara. LXXV. composite. 355 



C. TiNCTORius. Ctrnmon Saffron. — St. smooth ; lis. ovate-lanceolate, sessile, 

 spinose-denticulate.— ® Native of Egypt, but long cultivated in other lands on 

 account ol' its orange-colored flowers. Stem branching, striate, 1 — 21' high. 

 Leaves subamplexicaul, smooth and shining. Heads large, temiinal, with nu- 

 merous long and slender flowers. The latter are useful in coloring, and as a 

 nurse/-// medicine. July. 



G5. XERANTHEMUM. 

 Gr. ^ripos, dry, ai/^oj; on account of its tin', imperishable flowers. 



Heads discoid ; involucre hemispherical, with radiant, colored, 

 opaque, scarious scales ; receptacle paleaceous ; pappus paleo-setace- 

 ous. — ® Native of S. Europe. 



X. ANNuuM. Willd. Eternal Flovjcr. — (S/. erect, branched ; lis. oblong-lan- 

 ceolate, obtusish, alternate, entire ; hds. large, terminal, solitary ; scales of the 

 imolture obtuse, i^carious, inner ones of the ray spreading, lanceolate, obtuse. — 

 A singularly beautiiul plant, half hardy, of easy culture. Stem 2 — 3f high. 

 The radiant involucre scales are of a rich purple, but there are varieties with 

 red, white, blue and yellow rays. The splendid flowers retain their beauty 

 through the winter. 



66. C NIC US. Vaill. 



Gr. KVi^o}, to prick; well applied to these herbs. 



Heads discoid ; involucre ventricose, imbricate with doubly spi- 

 nous scales ; ray-tlowers sterile ; receptacle very hairy ; pappus in 3 

 series, the outer 10-toothed, the 2 inner each 10-bristled. — Oriental 

 herbs. 



C. BENKDicTus. Blcsscd TMstle. — Ijvs. somewhat decurrent ; dentate and 

 spiny; i/ivol. doubly spinous, woolly, bracteate. — (I) Native of Persia, Tauria 

 and Greece. About 2f high, with yellow flowers. Sparingly naturalized. 

 June. — It was formerly in great estimation in medicine, but is now considered 

 worthless. :j: 



67. ONOPERDON. Vaill. 

 G'. ovo(, and ncpSiO, the application to the present noble genus is not obvious. 



Heads discoid, homogamous ; involucre ventricose, imbricate with 

 spreading, spinous scales ; receptacle deeply alveolate ; pappus copi- 

 ous, capillary, scabrous ; achenia 4-angled. — Large, branching herbs, 

 tvith decurrent leaves. 



0. ACANTHiuM. Cotton Thistle. 



I/ivol. scales spreading, subulate; lis. ovate-oblong, decurrent, sinuate, 

 spinous, woolly on both sides. — (g) This fine looking thistle occurs naturalized 

 in waste grounds, and is about 3f in height. The whole plant has a white, 

 cottony appearance. Stem winged by the decurrent leaves, which are unusually 

 large. Involucre round, cottony, spinous. Flowers purple. July, Aug. 



68. CYNARA. 

 Gr. Kvoiti, a dog ; the stiff, hard spines of the invol. resemble a dog's teeth. 



Heads discoid, homogamous ; involucre dilated, imbricate, scales 

 fleshy, emarginate, pointed ; receptacle setaceous ; pappus plumose ; 

 achenia not beaked. — Natives of the Old World. 



1. C. ScoLYMUs. Garden A/iichoke. 



Z/r5. subspinose, piimate and undivided; iiivnl. scales ovate. — % Native 

 of S. Europe, naturalized in gardens and cultivated grounds. A well known 

 garden esculent. The parts used are the receptacle, the lower part of the in- 

 volucre and the upper portion of the stalk. It is cultivated from suckers placed 

 in rows. 3 feel apart Aug. Sept. ^ % 



2. C. CARDUNciJLUs. Cardoan. — Lvs. spiny, all pinnatifid ; mvol. scales 

 ovate. — 'ZJ. Native of Canada. Flowers purple. This plant is blanched bj 



