COMPOSITE. (COAfPOSITE FAMILY). 469 



34. C. Bclien, L. ^D If Behmen. 1 to 1.5, sparlagly papillose- 

 pubescent ; ste/m interruptedly winged with decitrrent leaves^ corymhose. 

 Leaves firm, with elevated nerves and veins, those of root large, 

 petiole!, oblong, entire or pinnatifid to lyrate ; stem-leaves oblong, 

 entire, pinnately lobed, decurrent at base ; those of branches minute, 

 elliptical-linear. Heads ovate-conical, .02 to .03 long ; scales of in- 

 volucre acute, with a very short, prickly mucro — May to July — Dry 

 places ; middle to subalpine mountain zone ; Sha'rah, between Hems 

 and Tripoli. 



Var. siit>1>racteata, Boiss. Leaves of peduncles sometimes as 

 long as heads, but always linear — Coast ; Lebanon ; Aintab, 



Var. brachyptera, Boiss. Wings of upper leaves short ; heads 

 smaller — Merj-'Ayun ; Antilebauon. 



35. C Verutum, L. .6 to 1.3 ; stem leafy, simple or stiff- 

 branched, branches witli narrow, entire wings. Lower leaves ohlong, 

 sinuate-pinnatiftd to lyrate, the rest or all litiear-lanceolafe, entire. Heads 

 terminal, solitary, globular, .02 in diameter, concave-truncate at base; 

 lateral prickles of invokicre-spmes minute, 1-2 on each side toward 

 middle of spine ; flowerets yellow — June — Borders of fields ; coast 

 and lower mountain zones, and interior plains. 



36. C. so!stiliali§, L, .3 to 1, appressed-cobwebby, canes- 

 cent ; stem and branches rigid, winged, the latter spreading. Lower 

 leaves lyrate, stem-leaves linear, entire, decurrent into entire wings as 

 long as inter nodes. Heads terminal, solitary, ovate, .01 to .015 long ; 

 lower scales of involucre terminating in 3, short prickles, the inter- 

 mediate in a slender, sliarp spine as long as the head or twice as long, 

 with 2 prickles on each side at base ; flowerets yellow — April to June 



— Common from coast to subalpine regions. 



37. C Sinaica, DC. .2 to .3. cobwebby, branching from 

 neck, dichotomous, proliferous; wings narrow, shorter than inter node. 

 Leaves linear, with remote, irregular, oblong lobes, or dentate, or entire. 

 Heads in forks or terminal, short-peduucled, solitary, ovate, .01 to .015 

 long, somewhat bracted by upper leaves ; spines of of involucre with 

 2-3, rather remote prickles on each side ; flowers jiesh-colored — April 



— Hills and valleys about the Dead Sea to Sinai. 



38. C. --Esfyptiaca, L. Yamrur. Yamrdr. (2) .15 to .2, dense- 

 ly crisp-papillose, canescent, branching from base ; branches leafy, 

 forked, proliferous, 1-3-lieaded. l^eaves linear-oblong, pinnatipartite 

 or cut into oblong to Unear, toothed or lobed segments, the upper 

 nearly entire, minutely aurlcled at base. Hea Is ovate-oblong, .015 long, 

 with thickifih, short peduncles, bracted by the upper leaves; spines of in- 

 voUicre curved. 4-5 times as long as the scales, with two prickles on 

 either side (*f the lower half ; flowerets pale-purple — April and May — 

 Arabia Petraea to Egypt, and southward. 



39. C. Post! I, Boiss. 2^ .3 to .6, tomentose-canescent ; stems 

 prostrate, densely leafy, forked. Leaves oblong in outline, pinnati- 

 partite into smaU, oblong, prickly-pointed lobes. Heads ovate, .01 long, 

 at forks and terminal, sessile or short-pedancled, bracted by the upper 

 leaves ; spines of involucre broad at base, spreading, the lower as long 

 as scales, the upper twice to thrice as long, all loith short prickles at 



