COMPOSITJE. 



215 



TARAXACUM, Juss. 



432. T. officinale, Wigg. Common Dandelion. 



Native ; by roadsides, on banks, in waste spots and pastures. 

 Very common. ]\[arch to 3Jay ; bears scattered flowers on 

 through the summer, and flowers again more plentifully in the 

 autunni. Area general. 



One of the commonest plants in the turf of gi-ass-plots, on walls, &c., 

 in the town of Plymouth, occurring also about the pavements of the less 

 frequented streets. 



The var. h. eri/throspermum^ Andz. , is very frequent on dry banks and 

 rocky 'cuttings' by lanes, «fec. In English Botany Dr. Boswell says c. 

 tcevirjatum differs from it only in the colour of the achenes. By these the 

 examples mth the greatly divided leaves, growing about Plymouth, would 

 he mostly e?'ijth7-ospennum ; having the 'dark red,' not 'olive,' achenes. 

 The rather strongly-marked var. cL 2^alustre, DC, is also very common 

 and generally distributed, occurring plentifully in all the Districts. Al- 

 though found mostly on damp hedge-banks, in marshes, and by roadside 

 drains, it occurs sometimes in very dry spots. It is to be seen very near 

 the town, as between Pennycomequick and ^lilehouse, in Keyham Lane, 

 between Tothill and Little Saltram, &c., also on the limestone at Catte- 

 down, as well as on Crownhill Down and on the swampy flat lelow Chol- 

 wichtown, on the southern border of Dartmoor. It begins to flower as 

 early as the other forms, notwithstanding the contrary has been stated. 



The Dandelion frequently exhibits fasciation of inflorescence. I Lave 

 noticed the Greenfinch and Yellow Bunting feeding on its seeds. 



lACTUCA, L. 



433. L. virosa, L. Strong -scented Lettuce. 



Denizen ; on walls. A^ery rare. June to August, or later. 

 D. III. On walls above the Tavy at Beer Ferrers village ; about a dozen 

 plants on a wall, 1864 ; eleven noticed, 1872, &c. 

 I used to consider this indigenous, but now think, from its restricted 

 range, the nature of the spots where it grows, and the fact of its formerly 

 having had a reputation as a medicinal plant, that it has been derived 

 from ancient cultivation. 



SONCHUS, L. 



434. S. oleraceus, L. Smooth Soir-thistle ; ^ Milky Disel.^ 



Kative ; on banks, m waste places, and in cultivated land. Very 

 common. April to October, or later. Area general. 

 To be seen close to Plymouth. A slight variety with creamy white 

 flowers is sometimes met with. A form havmg the leaves cut into narrow 

 attenuated segments ; Maristow (District in.), 1875. 



