SYNGENESIA : POLYGAMIA ^QUALIS. 429 



of pale yellow flowers. The central flower which 

 terminates each branch has the fhorteft: peduncle. 



The peduncles are not always downy, but become 

 fmooth as the plant grows old. 



There is a variety of this plant with $. more rigid 

 and more prickly leaves, which fome authors 

 make a difl:in(5l fpecies. vid.fig.Jequentes. (Ger. 

 em. 291./. I, 2. FeL herb. t. i^.f. 4, 5, ^ ejus 

 varietates f. 1, 2, 3. Pluk. aim. t. 61. f. s- Loes. 

 Prufs. /. 77 y 78, Moris, hijf. f.y. t. i.f 5, 

 i^ 8. ordinis inferioris. Blaekwell. t. 30. 



This as well as the former varies with intire and 

 laciniated leaves, as appears from the different 

 figures. 



The young tender leaves of fow-thiflle are in fomc 

 countries boil'd and eaten as greens. They arc 

 of a cooling nature, and applied outwardly, by 

 way of cataplafm, have been found ferviceablc 

 in inflammatory fwellings and carbuncles Swine, 

 Hares, and rabbits are fond of tliem. 



The flowers open about fix or i'tvcn o'clock in 

 the morning, and lliut up again at eleven or 

 twelve. 



LACTUCA. Gen. pi. 909. 



Receptaculum nudum. Cal. imbricatus, cylindricus, 



margine membranaceo. Pappus flmplcx ftipita- 



tus. 



LACTUCA foliis horizontalibus, carina aculeatis 



dentatis, Sp. pL 1119. (Ger. em. 309. /. i. Pet. 



herb. 



