810 THE DAISY FAMILY. 



42. Prolifekotjs Cudweed — {Fildgo Genndnica.) 

 Dry fields, commons, and green hillocks where broom grows, but 

 rather unusual. Tolerably frequent at Bowdon, and plentiful near 

 Mellor Church, Derbyshire. Fl. June, July. Annual. 



Curtis, iii. 523 ; E. B. xiv. 946 (both as Gnaphalium Germdnicum). 



43. Least Cudweed — {Fildgo minima.) 

 Dry sandy and waste places, rather uncommon. Lindow Common 

 and thereabouts ; near Arden Hall ; plentiful on Knutsford Moor, and 

 tolerably frequent about Bowdon. Fl. June, July. Annual. 

 E. B. xvii. 1157 (as Gnaph&lium minimum). 



44. BtTTTERBtTK — [Petas'ites vulgaris.) 



Upon the banks of all the rivers about Manchester, and on the 

 alluvial flats formed by their overflows, in the greatest profusion ; also 

 in wet corners of old meadows, where the soil is deep and sandy, and 

 in doughs where the stream is apt to overflow. Fl. April, May, before 

 the leaves appear. 



Curtis, i. 132, and iii. 527 ; E. B. vi. 430 and 431 (both as Tussildgo Petasites 

 and T. hybrida) ; Baxter, ii. 139. 



The leaves of the butterbur are the largest produced by any plant that grows 

 wild in our country, competing with those of the rhubarb in their vast dimensions. 

 Growing close together, and lifted upon stalks that are seldom less than two feet 

 long, and often much longer, they form thick and almost impenetrable jungles on 

 the river-banks, and in places similarily favourable to their development. They 

 have been observed in rich alluvial soil as much as six feet in height, and ample 

 enough to give shelter from a shower of rain. The flowers are among the earliest 

 of the spring, appearing while the leaves are not larger than one's hand, and 

 resembling hyacinths in general figure. The bees are glad when they arrive. 

 After blossoming, the stems lengthen immensely, growing to an altitude of a yard 

 or more, and branching into innumerable peduncles, every one of which bears a 

 globular tuft of wliite-plumed fruits at the extremity. Broad at the base, and 

 gradually taperiug upwards, the plant is then changed into a magnificent pagoda. 

 Unhappily, when it invades land set apart for tillage, the butterbur becomes one 

 of the most vexatious spoilers the farmer is troubled with. 



45. Coltsfoot — {Tussilngo Fdrfara.) 



On moist clay land, in jiastures, waste places, by waysides, near 

 brick-field pits, and on the banks of rivers, very common everywhere. 

 Fl. March, April, before the leaves appear. 



Curtis, i. 133; E. B. vi. 42it ; Baxter, ii. fll. 



