158 GAMOPETALOUS EXOGENS 



Obs. This little plant varies considerably, in the different stages 

 of its progress to maturity. 



226. CYtf'TIIIA, Don. 



[Probably from Mount Cynthus ; which was sacred to Apollo & Diana.] 

 Heads many-flowered. Involucral scales somewhat in 2 rows. 

 Akenes oblong, striate ; pappus double, the outer of numerous 

 minute chaffy scales the inner of many elongated deciduous hairs. 

 Smoothish glaucous perennials : leaves chiefly radical ; heads few, 

 terminal, rather large ; florets deep yellow. 



1. C. Virginica, Don. Stem mostly bifid or trifid at sum- 

 mit, few-leaved ; radical leaves lanceolate, entire, sessile and clasp- 

 ing. 



C. amplexicaulis. Beck, and Fl. Cestr. ed. 2. p. 441. 

 VIRGINIAN CYNTHIA. 



Stem 12 to 18 inches high, often 2 or 3 from the root, somewhat dichotomously 

 branched at summit, or often with 3 slender naked upright peduncles, and with a 

 clasping leaf at the forks, Radical leaves 3 to 6 inches long, narrowed to a petiole at 

 base. Involucral scales lance-linear, united at base, arranged alternately somewhat 

 in a double series. 

 Bab. Meadows, on the slaty hills : not common. Fl. May. Fr. July. 



22t. TRAGOPO V CK>]V, Tournef. 

 [Gr. Tragos, a goat, and Pogon, a beard ; in allusion to the pappus.] 

 Heads many-flowered. Involucral scales 8 to 16, in a nearly single 

 series, somewhat united at base, finally reflexed. Akenes striate, 

 scabrous, terminating in a long continuous beak ; pappus in several 

 series, all plumose except the outer ones, which are longer than the 

 rest. Leaves sublinear, with parallel nerves. 



1. T. PORRIFO V LIUM, L. Root fusiform, fleshy ; leaves lance-linear, 

 acuminate, very entire, sessile and clasping ; heads on terminal 

 clavate fistular peduncles. 

 LEEK-LEAVED TRAGOPOGON. Oyster-plant. Salsify. 



Plant smooth and somewhat glaucous; biennial f Stem 3 to 4 or 5 feet high, 

 somewhat dichotomously branching. Leaves 6 to 12 or 15 inches long, distichously 

 arranged, ovately dilated at base, and tapering to a long slender acumination. 

 Involucral scales lanceolate, longer than the florets, which are violet-purple with a 

 fuscous or greenish-brown tinge. Akenes lance-oblong, tapering to a smooth slen- 

 der beak about an inch in length, with the pappus at summit. 

 Hob. Gardens. Nat. of Europe. Fl. June. Fr. July. 



Obs. Cultivated for its fleshy root, which, when properly cook- 

 ed, has something of the flavor of fried Oysters ; whence one of its 

 common names. 



228. HIERA X CIUIH, Tournef. 



[Gr. Hierax, a hawk ; being supposed a sharpener of that bird's vision.] 

 Heads many-flowered. Involucre ovoid-oblong ; scales more or less 

 imbricated. Akenes oblong, striate, not beaked; pappus a single 

 series of tawny fragile bristles. Perennials: leaves entire, or den- 

 tate, usually crowded at the base of the stem ; heads panicled, or 

 single ; florets yellow. 



