COMPOSITE. (composite FAMILY.) 297 



C. NtrxAxs, L. (MisK Thistle.) Biennial; leaves decurrent, sinuate, 

 spinv; heads sulitarv, clrooj)iiig; tiowers purple. — Fields near liarrisburg, 

 Vii.,'Prof. Purti.r. (Adv. from Eu.) 



81. O N O P 6 R D O N, Vaill. Cotton- or Scotch Thistle. 



Receptacle deej)ly lioneyconibed, not setose. Pappus not plumose. Other- 

 wise as Cuicus. — Coarse, branching annuals, or Idennials, with the stems 

 winged by the decurrent base of the lol)ed and toothed somewhat prickly leaves. 

 Heads large ; flowers purple. (The ancient Cireek name of the plant.) 



O. Ac.4nthum, L. IStem (2-4° high) and leaves cotton-woolly; scale.s 

 linear-awl-shaped. — Koadsides and waste j)laces in the Atlantic States ; rather 

 rare. July-8ept. (Adv. from Eu.) 



82. CENT A UREA, L. Star-Thistlk. 



Heads many-flowered ; flowers all tubular, the marginal often much larger 

 (as it were radiate) and sterile. Keceptade bristly. Involucre ovoid or glo- 

 l)use, imbricated, the scales margined or appendaged. Achenes obovoid or 

 ot)]ong, attached ol)li(juely at or near tlie base; jiaj^jnis setose or partly chaffy 

 or none. — Herbs with alternate leaves and single heads. (Named from the 

 Centaur, Chiron, famous for his skill in healing.) 



* Achenes terete, lO-clentate ; pappus <>/ \0 long bristles and 10 s/iort inner ones. 



C. HEXEDfcTA, L. Low branching annual, with clasping scarcely pinnat- 

 iti 1 cut leaves, and large sessile leafy-bracted heads; flowe-rs yellow. ' (Cnicus 

 benedictus, A.) — Koadsides and waste grounds, IS. Atlantic States; rare. 

 (Adv. from Eu.) 



* * Achenes compressed or ^-amjled ; pappus verij short or none. 



C. CvANUS, L. (Bu'ebottle.) Scales of the globular involucre fringe- 

 margined ; false rai/s large ; pappus very short ; leaves linear, entire, or tot)thed 

 at the base; root annual. — Koadsides, escaped from gardens. July. — Flow- 

 ers lilue, varying to purplish or white. (A(lv. from Eu.) 



C. >:t(;RA, L. (KxAi'WKKi).) Scales of the globular involucre appendaged, 

 and with a black pectinately ciliate fringe; rai/s wanting ; papi)us very short; 

 leares lanceolate, entire, or the lower ly rate-toothed, rough; rout perennial. — 

 AVaste places, E. New Eng. Aug. — Flowers inirplo. (Adv. from Eu.) 



C. CALcfxRAPA, L. (Star-Thistle.) Stem diffusely much branched; 

 leaves pinnateli/ lobed or spinulose-toothed ; heads sessile, tlie middle scales of 

 the ovoid involucre sping; pap))us none; flowers purple; root annual. — Sea- 

 ports, N. Y., and southward. (Adv. from Eu.) 



C. JAcea,» L. J.,ike the hust ; heads rather larger, the brownish scale- 

 a])pendages lacerate ; rays conspicuous, ])almatc. — Charlotte, Vt. (Pringle); 

 near N, Y., etc., on ballast. (Nat. from Eu.) 



83. LAM PS AN A, Tonrn. Niitle-wokt. 



Heads 8- 12-flowered. Scales of the cylindrical involucre 8, erect, in one 

 row. Keceptade naked. Achenes nlilong; j(ai)pus none. — Slender branch- 

 ing annuals, with angled or toothed leaves, and looselv j)anicled small heads; 

 flowers yellow. (Tlie \au.\l/dv7} of Diosi-orides was evidently a wild Mustard.) 



L. co.MMtjxis, L. Nearly smooth, 1-2° high; lower leaves ovate, some- 

 times lyre-shaped. — Koadsides, N. Eng. to N. V. and I'enii. (Nat. from Eu.) 



84. KRIGIA, Sclireber. Dwarf Daxdeliox. 



Heads several - many-flowered. Involucral scales several, in about 2 rows, 

 thin. Acheiics short and truncate, top shaped or colunuiar, terete or angled; 



