M4 



COROLLIFLORvE 



3. Fedia (Corn Salad) 



1. F. olitoria (Common Corn Salad, -Lamb's 

 Lettuce). A small plant 4-8 inches high, with 

 tender bright green leaves ; stems repeatedly 

 2-forked, and terminal leafy heads of very 

 minute flowers, which resemble white glass ; 

 leaves long and narrow, wider towards the end, 

 a little toothed near the base ; capsule inflated, 

 crowned by the 3 calyx teeth. It is sometimes 

 cultivated as a salad. Cultivated ground, such 

 as cornfields, etc. ; common. Fl. May, June. 

 Annual. 



2. F. dentata (Toothed Corn Salad). Leaves 

 long and narrow, much toothed towards the 

 base ; flowers in corymbs, with a solitary sessile 

 one in the forks of the stem ; capsule not 

 inflated, crowned by the 4-toothed calyx. 



Taller than the last and more rigid habit. Cornfields, etc. ; not 

 uncommon. Fl. June, July. Annual. 



Two or three other species of Fedia occur, but as they are neither 

 frequent nor of special interest, and are chiefly distinguished by 

 minute differences in the fruit, they are omitted from the present 

 volume. 



Fedia Olitoria 



{Common Corn Salad, 



Lamb's Lettuc$) 



Natural Order XLIII 



DISPACE^. The Teazel Tribe 



Calyx attached to the ovary, surrounded by several more or less 

 rigid, calyx-like bracts ; corolla tubular, with 4-5 unequal lobes ; 

 stamens 4, the anthers not united ; style 1 ; stigma not cleft ; fruit 

 dry, i-seeded, crowned by the pappus-like calyx ; flowers crowded 

 together in heads like the Compositae, but differing in the rigid 

 bractioles which surround each ; the leaves are usually opposite and 

 without stipules. A small Order of herbaceous plants inhabiting 

 temperate regions, and possessing no remarkable properties. Dis 

 bacus Fullonum is the Clothiers' Teazle, a plant with large heads of 

 flowers, which are embedded in stiff, hooked bracts. These heads 

 are set in frames and used in the dressing of broadcloth, the hooks 

 catching up and removing all loose particles of wool, but giving way 

 when held fast by the substance of the cloth. This is almost the 

 only process in the manufacture of cloth which it has been found 

 impossible to execute by machinery, for although various substi- 

 tutes have been proposed, none has proved on trial exactly to answer 

 the purpose intended. 



