50 FAMILIAE WILD FLOWERS. 



hotter regions of the extreme south in Sicily, for example 

 it deserts the plains, and must be looked for on the 

 high-lying pastures of the mountain-sides. 



Few plants are more hardy than the corn-flower, as its 

 seedlings, which come up abundantly in the autumn, brave 

 the severest frosts. The flowers are of the compound cha- 

 racter with which we are familiar in the Composite order ; 

 the florets of the disk are small, purple, and numerous, 

 while the outer radiating florets, that form the conspicuous 

 beauty of the flower, are fewer in number, but much larger, 

 widely spread, and of a brilliant blue tint. The anthers, 

 five in number, of the central florets, form a cylindrical 

 tube somewhat longer than the corolla whence they 

 emerge, and form a noticeable feature. The ovoid involucre 

 from which the flower-head springs was by old writers 

 supposed to sufficiently resemble a flask to justify them in 

 calling the plant the blue-bottle. It is covered by numerous 

 tightly-compressed scales, each bordered by a margin or 

 fringing of brown teeth. The flowers are scentless. The 

 plant varies considerably in height, but about two feet 

 might be considered a very fairly typical size ; the general 

 character of the plant is upright ; the stems that are thrown 

 off leave the central stalk at a slight angle, and preserve 

 the general upright direction and effect. The flower-heads 

 grow singly at the ends of these long stems. The stems 

 are somewhat angular, and covered with a loose cottony 

 down ; their tough, wiry character will be at once appre- 

 ciated by any one who may attempt to gather the azure coronals 

 they bear at their summits, a considerable amount of bend- 

 ing, twisting, and tugging being necessary before they can 

 be induced to part company. The upper leaves are arranged 

 alternately on the stalk, and are very long as compared with 



