130 COMPOSIT.E 



are succeeded by brownish-white pappus. The plant is tall and slender, the 

 many-flowered stalk slightly hairy, two or three feet high, and swollen 

 beneath the flowers. The two species of Apargia were included with Thrincia 

 in the Linnean genus Leontodon. 



5. Thrincia (Thrincia). 



Hairy Thrincia (T. liirta). — Leaves all from the root, lanceolate, entire, 

 or deeply toothed, bristly, or hairy, with forked or simple hairs ; stalks 

 simple, hairy below ; root perennial. This plant is very frequent, from July 

 to September, on heaths and downs, bearing a yellow flower head on each of 

 its purplish, somewhat hairy stalks. It is from four to six inches high, with 

 spreading rough leaves, more or less lobed. Mr. Babington mentions that its 

 root is premorse — that is, it appears to have been bitten short. 



6. Cat's-ear (HijpocJmris). 



1. Smooth Cat's-ear (H. glabra). — Stem branched, leafy, smooth ; root- 

 leaves oblong, lobed ; involucre smooth, equalling the florets ; root annual. 

 The small yellow heads of this plant, scarcely longer than the involucre, are 

 to be seen, from June to October, in gravelly soils ; but the species is not 

 frequent. The stem, which is a foot or more in height, is branched, and 

 bears a few leaves. A variety (H. halbisii) is described with Ijeaked fruits. 



2. Long-rooted Cat's-ear (//. radicdta).- — Leaves all from the root, 

 pinnatifid, with the lobes pointing backwards, bristly ; stalks branched, 

 smooth, with a few scales below the flowers. This plant sends its perennial 

 roots so far down into the earth, that it is difficult of eradication. It is a 

 common and troublesome plant on some soils, both on this account, and 

 because its leaves, which spread horizontally, are so closely pressed to the 

 earth as to prevent the growth of the grass. It is, however, more common 

 on hedge-banks and waste places than on meadow lands. Swine are said to 

 be very fond of its roots, and not only does this circumstance account for the 

 name of the genus, but it is alluded to in some of the familiar names of 

 various coiuitries of Europe. The French call it PorceUe ; the Dutch Biggen- 

 kruid ; the Germans, Saukraut ; the Spaniards, Hierba del alcon ; the Danes, 

 Kongpeune. The large yellow flower-heads may be seen on their long 

 branched flower-stalks during July and August. 



3. Spotted Cat's-ear (H. maculdia). — Stem almost leafless, solitary, 

 nearly smooth ; leaves oblong, undivided, toothed, spotted on the upper 

 .surface ; involucres slightly bristly ; root perennial. This is a rare plant, 

 occurring on some open downs of chalky or limestone districts in Suftblk, 

 Cambridgeshire, and other counties. The stem is about a foot high, stout, 

 and having at its summit two or three large deep yellow heads, with two or 

 three small scale-like bracts beneath them. The leaves are all from the root, 

 and the plant blossoms in July and August. 



7. Lettuce (Laduca). 



* Beak long, white ; keel of leaves prickly. 



1. Strong-scented or Acrid Lettuce {L. virusa). — Leaves spreading, 

 oblong, toothed, two-eared, and clasping the stem ; stem leafy, branched 



