58 



mes. It is of no beauty, and was raised in the garden of the 

 Horticultural Society from seeds procured by Major Mitchell 

 in one of his expeditions into the interior of New Holland. 



107. PICRIS barbarorum. 



P. barbarorum. ; sparse hispida, foliis ciliatis supra nitidis scabriusculis 

 radicalibus spathulato-lanceolatis subdentatis caulinis oblongis sessilibus 

 amplexicaulibus recurvis dentatis integrisque, caule stricto ramoso, involucri 

 foliolis lineari-lanceolatis acutis apice vel secus dorsum serie simplici pilorum 

 longorum reflexorum appendiculatis, acbseniis badiis longe rostratis trans- 

 verse rugosissirais disci sterilibus. 



This remarkable, but not beautiful, plant was found by Ma- 

 jor Mitchell in his latest journey into the interior of Australia, 

 and was raised from that officer's seeds in the garden of the 

 Horticultural Society. It forms one of the very few Cichorace- 

 ous plants known in New Holland, and, along with two other 

 species of the same genus, one of which is noticed by M. De 

 Candolle, gives to Australia another of the very few features 

 which that country possesses in common with Europe. It is 

 an erect, branched plant, nearly 3 feet high, and is what is 

 mentioned by Major Mitchell at p. 148 of the second volume 

 of his work on Australia, as having been found by him par- 

 boiled, as a part of the food of the natives. It seems to be 

 only an annual, and is about as fit for food as a sow-thistle. 

 The other species to which allusion has just been made is a 

 native of Van Diemen's Land, whence I have received speci- 

 mens from my invaluable correspondent, Ronald Gunn, 

 Esq. (No. 115). It is like P. hieracioides in appearance, 

 but has longer narrower leaves, larger flower-heads, and an 

 exceedingly rough surface, on which account it may be 

 called 



108. PICRIS asperrima. 



P. asperrima ; pilis duris brevibus rigidis glochidatis exasperata, foliis inferiori- 

 bus lanceolatis dentatis in petiolum angustatis superioribus linearibus lon- 

 gissimis margine scaberrimis, caule laxe paniculato pedunculis subebracteatis 

 scaberrimis monocephalis elongatis, involucri foliolis lineari-lanceolatis dorso 

 spinuloso-crinitis, acbseniis 



