182 composite. [Siegesbeckia. 



21. SIEGESBECKIA, Linn. 



Mower-heads heterogamous. Florets of the circumference female, in a 

 single series, shortly ligulate or irregularly 2- or 3-lobed. Disk-florets her- 

 maphrodite, 5 -toothed. Involucral bracts in about 2 rows, the exterior linear- 

 spathulate, spreading, glandular-hispid, the inner ones, like the scales of the 

 receptacle, half-enclosing the achenes, glandular-hispid on the back. Style- 

 branches in the disk-florets short, somewhat flattened, very obtuse. Pappus 

 none. — Leaves opposite. 



A genus of very few species, widely distributed over the warmer regions of the globe. 



1. S. orientalis, Linn.; DC. Prod. v. 495; Wight, Ic. t. 1103. A 



pubescent, branching, rather stiff annual, 1 to 2 ft. high. Leaves from broadly 

 ovate-triangular to lanceolate, 1^ to 2 in. long or the lower ones larger; 

 petioles variable in length, usually dilated upwards, but not at the base. Flower- 

 heads 3 to 6 lines broad, in a dichotomous leafy panicle. Outer involucral 

 bracts often 4 or 5 lines long, covered with gland-bearing hairs. Florets 

 small, the ray very short. Achenes somewhat turgid and usually curved. — 

 S. iberica, Willd. ; DC. 1. c. 496. 



Waste places, Champion and others. Very common in S. Asia, extending over the Archi- 

 pelago to Australia and New Zealand, and northwards to Loochoo, but generally as a weed of 

 cultivation. In America this species is rare, but is represented by an allied one, with a 

 smaller ray and stern-clasping leaves. 



22. WEDELIA, Jacq. 



Flower-heads heterogamous. Florets of the circumference female, ligulate, 

 in a single series. Disk-florets hermaphrodite, 5 -toothed. Involucral bracts 

 in about 2 rows, the outer ones leafy, the inner ones smaller, passing into the 

 scales of the receptacle. Style-branches in the disk-florets rather acute, hairy 

 in the upper part. Achenes narrow, obovoid or flattened. Pappus of very 

 short scales consolidated into a little fringed or toothed cup. — Leaves oppo- 

 site. Bay yellow. 



A considerable American genus, with a very few Asiatic, African, or Australian species. 



1. W. calendulacea, Less.; DC. Prod. v. 539; Wight, Ic. t. 1107. 

 A low, decumbent, prostrate or creeping perennial, sprinkled with short ap- 

 pressed hairs. Leaves oblong-lanceolate, 1 to 2 in. long, acute or obtuse, 

 coarsely toothed or nearly entire, narrowed at the base but scarcely stalked. 

 Flower-heads nearly f in. diameter, solitary, on long axillary peduncles. Ray- 

 florets about 10 or 12, rather broad, bright yellow. 



On the race-course, Happy Valley, Wilford, also Hance, Wright. Frequent in India, 

 from Ceylon and the Peninsula to Java, and northward to Assam, the Philippines, S. China, 

 and Loochoo. 



23. WOLLASTONIA, DC. 



All the characters of Wedelia, except that the pappus is either entirely 

 wanting, or consists but of 1 to 3 slender stiff deciduous awns. The outer 

 involucral^bracts are also usually less leafy. 



A small genus, confined to the warmer regions of Africa, Asia, and Australia. 



