252 
COMPOSITE. (COMPOSITE FAMILY.) 
copious rather deciduous pappus of soft capillary bristles. — Leafy- 
stemmed herbs, with the general aspect and foliage of Lactuca. 
Heads racemed or panicled; the flowers chiefly blue. (Name 
from mulgeo , to milk.) 
* Pappus bright white: flowers blue. 
1. m. acuminatum, DC. Smooth, panicled above (3P-G 3 
high); stem-leaves ovate and ovate-lanceolate, pointed ,, merely toothed , 
sometimes hairy on the midrib beneath, contracted at the base into a 
winged petiole; the lowest often sinuate ; heads loosely panicled. @ 
— Borders of thickets, New York to Ohio southward. 
2. m. Florida mi in, DC. Nearly smooth, panicled above 
(3^-6° high); leaves all lyrate or runcinate, the divisions sharply 
toothed ; heads in a loose compound panicle. ^ —Varies with the 
upper leaves clasping by a heart-shaped base, &c. — Rich soil, from 
Ohio westward and southward. Aug. 
* * Pappus tawny: corolla pale blue , or cream-color turning bluish. 
3. M. leucoplucum, DC. Nearly smooth; stem tall (3°- 
12P high), very leafy ; leaves irregularly pinnatifid, sometimes runci- 
nate, coarsely toothed, the uppermost often undivided; heads in a large 
and dense compound panicle. (?) — Low grounds, common. Aug. 
— Lower leaves often 1° long. 
69. SONCHUS, L. Sow-Thistle. 
Heads many-flowered, becoming tumid at the base. Involucre 
more or less imbricated. Achenia flattened laterally, ribbed or 
striate, not beaked. Pappus copious, of very white exceedingl) 
soft and fine capillary bristles. — Leafy-stemmed weeds, chiefly 
smooth and glaucous, with corymbed or umbellate heads of yellow 
flowers. (The ancient Greek name.) 
* Annual: flowers pale yellow. 
1. S. Oleraceus, L. (Common Sow-Thistle.) Stem-leave* 
runcinate-pinnatifid, or rarely undivided, slightly toothed with so 
spiny teeth, clasping by a heart-shaped base, the auricles acute; 
lucre downy when young; achenia striate , wrinkled transversely-- 
Waste places in manured soil and around dwellings, introduced^ 
2. S. ftsper, Vill. (Spiny-leaved Sow-Thistle.) ,^ tC 
leaves mostly undivided, undulate or slightly runcinate, consp» c ^° . 
ly spiny-toothed, the auricles of the clasping base rounded; uc 
margined , 3 -nerved on each side , smooth. — Waste places like the i 
usually a smaller and more rigid plant. 
* * Perennial: flowers bright yellow. • 
3. S. arveasis, L. (Cork Sow-Thistle.) Leaves r“ 
