270 



CICHORIACEAE. 



[Vol. III. 



I. Malacothrix sonchoides (Xutt.) T. & G. 

 Malacothrix. (Fig. 3530.) 



Leploseris sonchoides Nutt. Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. (11) 7: 



439. iH^. 

 Malaciitlirix soiuhoides T. & G. Fl. N. A. 2: 486. 1843. 



Annual, glabrous throughout, or slightly glandular; 

 stem branched, 6'-i 2' high. Leaves somewhat fleshy, 

 oblong or linear-oblong in outline, pinnatifid and the 

 lobes dentate with mucronate-pointed teeth, the basal 

 ones I ^'-3' long, narrowed into short broad petioles, 

 those of the stem smaller, sessile; heads several or 

 numerous, 8"-i5" broad; principal bracts of the in- 

 volucre linear, acute, scarious-uiargiued, the outer 

 short, oblong, obtuse, or acutish; achenes linear-ob- 

 long, margined at the summit by a 15-denticulate 

 white border; pappus-bristles all deciduous. 



On dry plains, western Nebraska and Kansas to Cali- 

 fornia and New Mexico. May-Aug. 



12. CHONDrIlLA L. Sp. PI. 796. 1753. 



Perennial herbs, with stiff divaricately branched stems, the basal leaves large and mostly 

 pinnatifid, those of the stem small, narrow, alternate, and few middle sized heads of yellow 

 flowers mostly solitary at the ends of the branches. Involucre cylindric, several-flowered, 

 its inner bracts in i or 2 series, nearly equal, with several series of small or minute outer 

 ones. Receptacle flat, naked. Rays truncate and 5-toolhed at the summit. Anthers sagit- 

 tate at the base. Style-branches slender. Achenes oblong or linear, 4-5angled, many- 

 ribbed, more or less spiny near the summit, abruptly contracted into a beak. Pappus of 

 copious soft white simple bristles. [Greek, lump, from the gummy matter borne on the stems 

 of .some species.] 



About 18 species, natives of the Old World. 



I. Chondrilla juncea L. Gum Succor}'. 

 (Fig. 353I-) 



Chondrilla juncea L. Sp. PI. 796. 1753. 



Stem rush-like, hirsute at the base, glabrous 

 above, much branched, i°-3° high. Basal leaves 

 runcinate-pinnatifid, those of the stem linear or 

 linear-lanceolate, acute, dentate or entire, ses- 

 sile, '/I'-i^i' long, ^''-lyi" wide; heads termi- 

 nal and lateral on the branches, short-pedun- 

 cled or sessile, s/'-d" broad; involucre glabrous 

 or nearly so, about \" high, its inner bracts nar- 

 rowly linear; achenes muricate and spiny near 

 the summit, slightly shorter than the filiform 

 beak. 



In dry fields and waste places, Maryland and Vir- 

 ginia. Naturalized from Continental Europe. July- 

 Aug. Called also Naked-weed. Skeleton-weed. 



13. TARAXACUM Hall. Stirp. Helv. i: 23. 1768. 



Perennial acaulescent herbs, with basal tufted pinuatifid or sinuate-dentate leaves, and' 

 large heads of yellow flowers, solitary, or very rarely 2 or 3 together at the ends of naked 

 hollow scapes. Involucre oblong or campanulate, its inner bracts in i series, nearly equal, 

 slightly united at the base, the outer of several series of shorter somewhat spreading ones, 

 often reflexed at maturity. Receptacle flat, naked. Rays truncate and 5-toothed at the sum- 

 mit. Anthers sagittate at the base. Style-branches slender, obtusish. Achenes oblong or 

 linear-fusiform, 4-5-angled, 5-ionerved, roughened or spinulose, at least above, tapering into 

 a very slender beak. Pappus of numerous filiform unequal simple persistent bristles. 

 [Name of some wild succory, probably of Arabic or Persian origin.] 



About 20 species, natives of the northern hemisphere and southern South America. 

 Outer involucral bracts reflexed; achenes greenish brown, the beak 2-3 times their length. 



I. T. Tara.raciim. 

 Outer involucral bracts spreading or ascending; achenes red, the beak not more than twice their 

 length. 2. T. erylhrospeitnum. 



