Solanum — Sonchus. 195 



years' growth. The foliage is of a light-green colour, 

 tinged here and there with rose, and sparsely armed with 

 spines ; the young unfolded leaves are slightly tinged with 

 violet. Flowers numerous, small and white, appearing 

 when the plant is two or three years old. A good kind 

 which has been little tried in England. Venezuela. 



Solanum Warscewiczii. — A very fine and orna- 

 mental kind, resembling S. macrantkum, but with a lower 

 and more thickset habit, and branching more at the base. 

 The leaf-stalks also, and upper branches, are of a red 

 colour, glandular, and scaly; and the flowers are white 

 and small. The stem is armed with strong slightly re- 

 curved spines, and both the stems and the petioles of the 

 leaves are covered with a very dense crop of short stiff 

 brown hairs scarcely rising above the skin. This is one 

 of the handsomest and best kinds we have. 



Sonchus laciniatus. — A very graceful composite 

 plant, from Madeira, with a stout stem, growing to a 

 height of more than 5 ft., and large deeply-cut leaves 

 with linear-lance-shaped segments. Flower-heads yellow. 

 When grouped on grass-plats, or open spaces in pleasure- 

 grounds, the fine foliage of this plant is seen to very great 

 advantage ; but being so slender and delicate the plants 

 must be placed where they may be seen. It should be 

 planted out at the end of May, and thrives best in rich, 

 substantial soil, in a warm sunny position. Very numerous 

 varieties, with the leaves variously divided and of various 

 shades of green, have been advertised in catalogues under 

 specific names, as S. lyratus, S. gummi/erus, etc., etc. 

 Many of these are quite as charming as the type, and are 

 well adapted for the same uses. 



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