174 COMPOSITE. 



its branched stem is somewhat straggling, its golden flowers are 

 handsome and well rayed, and its form has some grace about it. 



The Hoary Ragwort (S. tenuiflorus), is abundant about 

 Hawkhurst. Tall, downy, with divided leaves, and large 

 clusters of gay yellow flowers . 



The common Ragwort, which our country people call " Hay- 

 green," or " Dogstander " (S. jacoboea), is a common weed. Its 

 toughness makes it difficult to remove. It greatly resembles the 

 Hoary Ragwort, but is shorter, and its leaves of a brighter green. 



The Marsh Ragwort (S. aquaticus), has purple stems and 

 fewer flowers. It is a more elegant plant. Both these species 

 are exceedingly common. 



There is a Stinking Ragwort (S. viscosus), which grows in 

 great abundance on the slopes of Arthur's Seat, and many 

 other places about Edinburgh. It is very like the Groundsel, 

 and grows as wildly, where it once settles itself, as that plant 

 does in a forsaken garden. It is extremely sticky, and has a 

 faint smell. 



The Green-scaled Ragwort is so like the Mountain Ragwort, 

 that it can only be distinguished by the green tips of its bracts, 

 those of the Mountain species being coloured with blackish- 

 purple. 



The great Fen Ragwort (S. paludosus), was sent to me from 

 Westmoreland last year. It is a noble plant, from three to six 

 feet high, with large clusters of golden blossoms. Its leaves, 

 and those of the next species, are undivided. 



The Broad-leaved Ragwort (S. saracenicus), is fully as tall a 

 plant, but its leaves are broader, and its rays more conspicuous. 

 My specimen grew in the Botanic Gardens at Edinburgh. It 

 is disappointing, in pressing these plants, to find that the seed 

 will go on to ripen, and lose all the beauty of the yellow corolla. 



The Field Fleawort (Cineraria integrifolia), is abundant on 

 the Wiltshire downs. A pretty little plant, with simple woolly 

 leaves and a naked stem, about four inches high, bearing two 

 or three bright yellow flowers at the top. 



