XXXV. UMBELLIFElLffl. 187 



Flowers 2 or 3 together, in little heads along the slender 



wiry stems. Bracts very small 3. B. tenuissimum. 



Perennialk Umbels of 4 to 8 rays. Bracts shorter than the 



rays 4. B.falcatum. 



The B. fruticosum, a shrubby south European species, used formerly 

 to be much planted in our shrubberies, but is now more seldom met 

 with, being rather tender. 



1. B. rotundifolium, Linn. (fig. 419). Ilare's-ear, Throw-wax. An 

 erect, stiff, glabrous annual, a foot or rather more high, and remarkable 

 for its broadly ovate leaves ; the upper ones embracing the stem, and 

 joined round the back of it, so that they appear perfoliate or pierced 

 through by the stem, the lowest leaves tapering to a stalk. Umbels 

 terminal, of 3 to 5, or rarely 6, short rays, without any general involucre ; 

 the partial involucres very much longer than the flowers, consisting of 

 4 to 6 broadly ovate yellowish bracts very unequal in size, the largest 

 about 6 lines long. 



A cornfield weed, apparently indigenous to the Mediterranean region, 

 but now widely spread over Europe and western Asia, and introduced 

 into North America. Occurs in cornfields in chalky soils in eastern and 

 southern England, but neither in Ireland nor Scotland. PL with the 

 corn. 



2. B. aristatum, Bartl. (fig. 420). Narrow B. An erect annual, slender 

 but stiff, not much branched, from 2 or 3 inches to near a foot high. 

 Leaves narrow-linear and grass-like, but rather stiff, 1 to 2 inches long. 

 Umbels small, terminal, of 2 to 6 very short rays. Involucres of about 

 6 lanceolate, green bracts ending in a fine point; the general one 

 usually longer than the rays ; the partial ones rather shorter, but still 

 far exceeding the flowers. 



In stony wastes, very abundant in southern Europe and eastward to 

 the Caucasus, more scarce in central Europe. In Britain only near 

 Torquay, in East Sussex, and in the Channel Islands. FL. summer. 



3. B. tenuissimum, Linn. (fig. 421). Slender B.A. slender, wiry 

 annual, either simple and nearly erect, or more frequently divided from 

 the base into several decumbent or ascending branches, 6 inches to a 

 foot high. Leaves few, narrow-linear and grass-like, the upper ones 

 very short. Flowers in little heads of 3 or 4, nearly sessile along the 

 upper part of the stem and branches, sometimes forming little irregularly 

 compound umbels at the top. Involucres of a few small, linear, pointed 

 bracts. Fruits more conspicuous than in the other species, and covered 

 with little raised dots or granules between the ribs. 



On heaths, barren wastes, and stubbles, common in central and 

 southern Europe, especially near the sea, extending eastward to the 

 Caucasus, and northwards to southern Sweden. Occurs in most of the 

 eastern and southern maritime counties of England, and occasionally 

 also found inland, but neither in Ireland nor Scotland. FL late in 

 summer. 



4. B. falcatum, Linn. (fig. 422). Falcate B. Stems stiff and erect, 

 slightly branched, 1 to 3 feet high, forming at the base a short perennial 

 stock. Leaves linear, ribbed underneath, the radical ones often stalked 

 and rather broader. Umbels terminal and compound, of 4 to 8 rays ; 

 the general involucre of 3 or 4 oblong or lanceolate bracts, very much 

 shorter than the rays ; those of the partial involucres also lanceolate, of 

 * yellowish green, scarcely as long as the flowers. 



