ORDER JEQUALIS. 163 



considerable effect for the bite of the Rattlesnake, if 

 we are to credit Mr. P ursh, the well known botanist. 



In the genus Lactuca, or Lettuce, the calyx is im- 

 bricated and cylindrical ; the receptacle naked ; and 

 the pappus or down simple, and stipitate. From this 

 character Sonchus, or the Sow-thistle, only differs, in 

 having the calyx wider at the base ; and the simple 

 threaded pappus sessile, or without the stipe. The 

 aspect of the 2 genera is quite similar, and they both 

 produce small yellow or blue flowers. 



Throughout Massachusetts and other parts of New 

 England, the meadows and way sides are, in the 

 autumn, commonly enlivened with a yellow flowered 

 humble plant, very similar to the Dandelion, but 

 smaller, the Apargia autumtialis, distinguished from 

 the other genera by having a simple imbricated calyx ; 

 a naked, punctate receptacle ; and a plumose (or 

 compound threaded) sessile, unequal pappus. 



About the month of May and June may not unfre- 

 quently be observed a very small, but elegant orange 

 yellow flowered annual, opening only to the morn- 

 ing sun, called by the celebrated Willdenow, Krigia 

 virginica. It is smooth and glaucous, or pale green ; 

 with entire, or lyrate leaves ; sending out 1 -flowered 

 scapes, like a diminutive Dandelion. The calyx 

 consists of a simple row of leaves ; the receptacle is 

 naked ; the pappus double ; the exterior one 5 to 8- 

 leaved, the interior (according to the size of the spe- 

 cies) consists also of 5 to 8, or as many as 24 scabrous 

 bristles in the much larger flowered perennial species 

 K. amplexicaulis of the middle states. 



Our next section is the flosculosje, the florets of 

 which are all tubular. 



The first genus which we shall examine in this 

 section is the Arctium, or Burdock ; a large weed, 

 but too common in wastes and by way-sides, pioduc- 



