Cephalaria.~\ Lxxii. DiPSACEiE (hiern), 251 



seited on a common paleaceous receptacle. Heads involucrate with 

 imbricating scales shorter than the palees of the receptacle. Involucel 

 4- sided. 



A genus of seyeral species, occurring chiefly in the Mediterranean region and at 

 the Ciipe of Good Hope. 

 Stem elongated, glabrous. Leaves quite entire or with entire 



or dentate lobes 1. C. cmtauroides. 



Stem obsolete or very abbreviated. Scape hispidulous above. 



Leaves crenate 2. C. acaulis. 



i. C. centauroldes, Roem. et SchulL Syst Veg. in. p. 49 (1818). 



Erect perennial, 1-5 ft. high ; branches elongate, glabrous at least 

 above, shining, angular. Leaves oblong-lanceolate or linear, usually- 

 narrowed to an obtuse apex, simple trifid or pinnatifid, 3-15 in. long, 

 lobes linear spreading, dentate or quite entire, the upper ones sessile, 

 the radical ones petiolate undivided. Heads depresso- globose, §-1 in. 

 in diameter, few, on long naked glabrous peduncles ; scales of the 

 involucre oval, obtuse, pubescent and ciliate ; scales of the receptacle 

 longer, less obtuse. Involucel densely hirsute, sulcate inside, crowned 

 with 4 erect linear-oblong teeth. Calyx-limb patelliform, hairy inside, 

 ciliate. Corolla funnel-shaped, villous on both sides. Stamens inserted 

 at about the middle of the corolla. — DC. Prodr. iv. p. 648. 



Jmo-wct Guinea. Huilla, Dr. Welwitsch ! 



t Kozamb. Distr. Between Mambane and Sotshi, alt. 4500 ft. (a poor speci- 

 men), Dr. Kirk.' 



Occurs also In Cape Colony and Natal, and extends to the countries which border 

 on the Black Sea. 



ScaMosa d^currens, Thunb. (C. decurrms, Koem. et Sch.), mentioned by INIajor 

 Harris in Highlands of -Ethiopia, ii. p. 409 (1844) as a highly ornamental plant with 

 snowy heads, at Shoa, Abyssinia, is probably the same species. 



2. C acaulis, Steud. in Hb. Schimp. Abyss, sect. ii. n. 563. Root 

 thick, perennial ; stem very short or obsolete, 3-6 in. high. Leaves 

 radical or subradical, crowded, oblanceolate or narrowly sublyrate, 

 obtuse, attenuate downwards, quasi-petiolate, dilated and clasping at 

 the base, glabrous or hispid near the base, crenate or incise- lobed, 

 1^3 in. long by ^f in. wide. Scape terete, simple, l-headed, his- 

 pidulous above ; heads globose, J in. in diameter. Scales of the invo- 

 lucre oblong, entire, obtuse with a short apiculus, more or less setose 

 above and on the margin, dark towards the tip. Calyx ciliate. Corolla- 

 tube pubescent outside, somewhat pubescent also inside. Stamens 

 inserted near the top of the coroUa-tube. — A. Rich. Fl. Abyss, i. p. 368. 



Mile JtanCL. Abyssinia, Schimper ! 



3. SCABIOSA, Toum. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. PI. ii. p. 159. 



Calyx-tube adnate to the ovary ; lobes setaceous or pappose-plu- 

 mose. Corolla 4-5-lobed, funnel-shaped, irregular. Stamens 4. 

 Stigma somewhat dilated, emarginate. — Erect or ascending perennial 

 or annual herbs or undershrubs, glabrous or pubescent, with elongated 

 branches. Leaves opposite, entire or pinnatifid. Heads terminal, 



