3o6 



YELLOW TO ORANGE 



name Dandelion, derived from the L'rench Doit-dc-lion), and 

 these lobes are again cut into secondary points. 



As the Dandelion grows old the rays fall off, and it bends 

 downwards until the seed matures ; then, elevating its head 

 once more, it expands into a beautiful, snow-white, airy seed- 

 ball, whose plumes blow away at the slightest puff and float 

 off to find a new resting-place. 



T. rupestre, or Alpine Dandelion, is a tiny slender plant 

 with finely cut leaves and small flowers, which seldom grows 

 more than four or five inches high. From the lowlands to 

 the highest levels this 



" Dear common flower that grows beside the way, 

 Fringing the dusty road with harmless gold," 



is to be found. 



SOW THISTLE 



Sonchus arvensis. Composite Family 



Perennial by deep roots and creeping rootstocks. Stems : leafy below, 

 paniculately branched and nearly naked above. Leaves: lower and l)asal 

 runcinate-pinnatifid, spinulose-dentate. Flowers : heads several, corym- 

 bose-paniculate, bright yellow, very showy. Fruit : achenes oblong, com- 

 pressed, with about ten rugose longitudinal ribs. Not indigenous. 



Every traveller will easily recognize this common Sow 

 Thistle, with its yellow or yellowish flowers and its very 

 prickly leaves. Sometimes it is called Milk Thistle, on 

 account of the milk)' juices contained in llie stems. Like 

 many of the members of the great family of Composites, the 

 Sow Thistle has an involucre of green bracts, a flat naked 

 receptacle, and numerous strap-shaped rays, which are trun- 

 cate and finely toothed. It is a coarse showy weed, and opens 

 its flowers early in the day, closing them again soon after 

 noon. 



