Cynara. LXXV. composite. 355 



C. TiNCTORiDs. Common Saffron. — St. smooth ; Ivs. ovate-lanceolate, sessile, 

 spinose-denticulate. — Native of Eg)'pt, but long cultivated in other lands on 

 account of its orange-colored flowers. Stem branching, striate, 1 — 2f high. 

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

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

 nursery medicine. July. 



65. XERANTHEMUM. 



Gr. ^ipoS) dry, avSofj on account of its dry, imperishable flowers. 



Heads discoid ; involucre hemispherical, with radiant, colored, 

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

 ous. — (I) Native of S. Europe. 



X. ANNUUM. Willd. Eternal Flower. — S'/!. erect, branched; Ivs. oblong-lan- 

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

 involucre obtu.se, scarious, inner ones of the ray spreading, lanceolate, obtuse. — 

 A singularly beautiful plant, half hardy, of ea.sy 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 

 thi'ough the winter. 



G&. C NIC US. Vaili: 



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



Heads discoid ; involucre ventricose, imbricate with doubly spi- 

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

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

 herbs. 



C. BENEDicTus. Blcsscd Tldstlc. — Lvs. somewhat decurrent ; dentate and 

 spiny ; invol. 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. ^ 



67. ONOPERDON. Vaill. 



Gr. ovoi, and TTCpSio, the application to the present noble genus is notobvioiis. 



Heads discoid, homogamous ; involucre ventricose, imbricate with 

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

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

 with decurrent leaves. 



0. ACANTHiuM. Cotton Thistle. 



Invol. scales spreading, subulate; lvs. 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. Kvuv, 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 Artichoke. 



Lvs. subspiuose, pinnate and undivided; invol. scales ovate. — %. Native 

 of S. Europe, naturalized in gardens and cultivated groimds. 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 feet apart, Aug. Sept. ^ % 



2. C. CARDDNCULUS. Cwrdoon. — Lvs. spiny, all pinnatifid ; invol. scales 

 ovate. — % Native of Canada. Flowers purple. This plant is blanched by 



