ORD. Ti. Composite, — 73 
LACTUCA VIROSA. 'STRONG-SCENTED WILD LETTUCE. 
SYNONYMA. Lactuca virosa. Pharm. Edinb. nov.. New: Ed 
Dispens. 217. Murray. App. Med. vol. 6. 13. Lactuea sylvestris, 
odore viroso. Bauh. Pin. 123. Lactuca sylvestris major, odore 
‘opi. Gerard. Emac. 309. Lactuca Endivia foliis, odore viroso. 
Park. 818. Ray. Hist. 219. Synop. 161. . Haller: Hist. 15. 
L. virosa. Hudson, Flor. Ang. 337. Vi ‘ithevthe. Bot. Arr. $35. 
Ic. Collin. Obs. vi. pref. Smith Flor. Brit. 819)... .* 
Syngenesia. Polygamia Equalis. Zin. Gen. Plant. 909. 
Gen. Ch. Recept. nudum. Cal. imbricatus, cylindricus, margine 
membranaceo. Pappus simplex, stipitatus. Sem, leevia. 
Sp..Ch. - L. foliis horizontalibus carina aculeatis dentatis. 
ROOT biennial, tapering, branched, firm, furnished with long 
fibres. Stalk from-two to four feet high, slender, erect, round, 
prickly near the base, above smooth, branched. Branches spread- 
ing. Leaves at the root oblong, wedge-shaped, entire, or cut 
into winged clefts, toothed, commonly prickly at the underside of 
the midrib, sessile, horizontal: leaves on the stem arrow-shaped, 
embracing the stalk, either entire or cut into pinnated lobes: upper 
and floral leaves arrow-shaped, entire, pointed, embracing the 
branches at which they are placed. Flowers composed of numerous 
equal yellow florets. Calyx oblong, consisting of several small 
spear-Shaped unequal scales. Florets numerous, uniform, herma- 
phrodite, each composed of narrow ‘petals, cut at the extremity 
into four or five minute teeth. Filaments five, very short, hair- 
like. Anthere forming a cylindrical tube. Germen egg-shaped. 
Style filiform. Stigmata two, reflexed. Seeds ovate, compressed, 
Jodged upon the naked receptacle, and furnished with a simple 
hairy feather placed upon a footstalk. 
It grows about ditch banks, borders of fields, and old walls, 
flowering in July and August. 
