82 FLORA DOMESTICA. 



early flowering of the Pilewort ; particularly in the lines 

 addressed to the early butterfly : 



" Trusting the first warm day of spring, 

 Wlien transient sunshine warms the sky. 

 Light on his yellow spotted wing 

 Comes forth the early butterfly. 



With wavering flight he settles now 

 Where Pilewort spreads its blossoms fair. 

 Or on the grass where daisies blow. 

 Pausing, he rests his pinions there. 



But, insect, in a luckless hour 

 Thou from thy winter home hast come. 

 For yet is seen no luscious flower. 

 With odour rich and honied bloom. 



And these that to the early day 

 Yet timidly their bells unfold. 

 Close with the sun's retreating ray, 

 And'shut their humid eyes of gold." 



CENTAUllY. 



CENTAUREA. 



CINAROCEPHALEiE. SYNGENESIA POLYGAMIA FRUSTANEA. 



This plant has been also named Chii'onium ; both names being de- 

 rived from the centaur Chiron ; some say, because first discovered by 

 him — others, from his having been cured by it of a wound in his foot, 

 made by the fall of an arrow when he was entertaining Hercules. — 

 French, la centauree; bluet; barbeau; aubifoin. — Italian, centaurea. 



This is a very extensive genus, greatly varying in 

 beauty : some being mere ordinary weeds, others hand- 

 some and showy flowers. Many of them are cultivated in 

 our gardens : the most common, perhaps, is the Sultan- 



