Cynara. ; LXXV. COMPOSIT.Z. 355 
C. tTincTorius. Common Saffron.—St. smooth ; lvs. ovate-lanceolate, sessile, 
spinose-denticulate—@ Native of Egypt, but long cultivated in other lands on 
account of its orange-colored flowers. Stem branching, striate, 1—2f high. 
Leaves subamplexicaul, smooth and shining. Heads Jarge, terminal, with nu- 
merous long and slender flowers. The latter are useful in coloring, and as a 
nursery medicine. July. 
65. XERANTHEMUM. 
Gr. Enoos, dry, avSos; on account of its dry, imperishable flowers. 
Heads discoid; involucre hemispherical, with radiant, colored, 
opaque, scarious scales; receptacle paleaceous; pappus paleo-setace- 
ous.—® Wate of S. Europe. 
X. annuum. Willd. Eternal Flower.—St. erect, branched; lvs. oblong-lan- 
ceolate, obtusish, alternate, entire; ids. large, terminal, solitary; scales of the 
involucre obtuse, scarious, inner ones of the ray spreading, lanceolate, obtuse.— 
A singularly beautiful plant, half hardy, of easy culture. Stem 2—3f high. 
The radiant involucre scales are of a rich purple, but there are varieties with 
red, white, blue and yellow rays. The splendid flowers retain their beauty 
through the winter. 
66. CNICUS. Vaill. 
Gr. xvi{w, to prick; well applied to these herbs. 
Heads discoid ; involucre ventricose, imbricate with doubly spi- 
nous scales ; ray-flowers sterile ; receptacle very hairy ; pappus in 3 
series, the outer 10-toothed, the 2 inner each 10-bristled— Oriental 
herbs. 
C. Benepictus. Blessed Thistle—Lvs. somewhat decurrent; dentate and 
spiny; znvol. doubly spinous, woolly, bracteate—@) Native of Persia, Tauria 
and Greece. About 2f high, with yellow flowers. Sparingly naturalized. 
June.—It was formerly in great estimation in medicine, but is now considered 
worthless. + 
67. ONOPERDON. Vaill. 
Gr. ovos, and 7epdw, the application to the present noble genus is not obvious. 
Heads discoid, homogamous; involucre ventricose, imbricate with 
spreading, spinous scales ; receptacle deeply alveolate ; pappus copi- 
ous, capillary, scabrous; achenia 4-angled—Large, branching herbs, 
with decurrent leaves. 
O. acanTuium. Cotton Thistle. 
Invol. scales spreading, subulate; vs. ovate-oblong, decurrent, sinuate, 
spinous, woolly on both sides.—@) This fine looking thistle occurs naturalized 
in waste grounds, and is about 3f in height. The whole plant has a white, 
cottony appearance. Stem winged by the decurrent leaves, which are unusually 
large. Involucre round, cottony, spinous. Flowers purple. July, Aug. 
68. CYNARA. 
Gr. xvwy, a dog; the stiff, hard spines of the invol. resemble a dog’s teeth. 
Heads discoid, homogamous; involucre dilated, imbricate, scales 
fleshy, emarginate, pointed ; receptacle setaceous; pappus plumose ; 
achenia not beaked— Natives of the Old World. 
1. C. Scotymus. Garden Artichoke. : 
Ivs. subspinose, pinnate and undivided; invol. scales ovate— Native 
of S. Europe, naturalized in gardens and cultivated grounds. A well known 
garden esculent. The parts used are the receptacle, the lower part of the in- 
volucre and the upper portion of the stalk. It is cultivated from suckers placed 
in rows, 3 feet apart. Aug. Sept. §+ 
2. C. carpunctLus. Cardoon.—Lws. spiny, all pinnatifid; invol. scales 
ovate.—2 Native of Canada. Flowers purple. This plant is blanched by 
