188 coMPOSiTiE. [Gnaphalium. 



branching annual (or biennial ?), 1 to 3 ft. high. Leaves linear, pointed, 1 

 to li in. long, embracing the stem by 2 small shortly decurrent auricles, 

 gi'een and scabrous on the upper side, covered undenieath as well as the stems 

 with white wool. Flower-heads about 2|- lines in diameter, closely sessile, in 

 clusters forming terminal coiymbs. Involucral bracts scarious, from pale to 

 bright yellow, the outer ones slightly cottony. Female florets very numerous, 

 hermaphrodite ones about 8 or 10 in the centre. — G. confertum, Benth. in 

 Lond. Journ. Bot. i. 488. 



Hongkong, Hiiids. Ranges over the hilly districts of India from the Nilgherries to Sik- 

 kim and Khasia. 



2. G. multiceps. Wall ; DC. Prod. vi. 222. An annual or perhaps 

 sometimes a perennial of short duration. Stems ascending or erect, 6 in. to 

 1 ft. high, usually branching at the base only, lower leaves spathulate, the 

 upper ones varying from spathulate to linear, stem-clasping, and sometimes 

 slightly decurrent at the base, white-cottony on both sides as well as the stem. 

 Flower-heads scarcely above \\ lines diameter, in globular clusters, forming a 

 small dense corymb, or 3 or 4 peduncled clusters, with 1 or 2 sessile between 

 them. Involucral bracts scarious, yellow, the outer ones cottony. — G. java- 

 niDii, G. ramigerum, and G. confusnm, DC. Prod. vi. 222. G. Reinwardtia- 

 num, Miq. Fl. Ned. Ind. ii. 91. 



In rice-fields, Champion and others. Common in central and northern India, extending 

 eastw ard to the Archipelago, and northward to S. China, Looclioo, and Japan. 



The G. luteo-alhum, Linn., a common weed in almost all hot countries, but not yet found 

 in Hongkong, is very likely to make its way there. It differs from the last chiefly in the 

 involucral bracts of a dirty white or browni, not yellow. 



3. G. purpureum, Linn.; DC. Prod.\i. 232. An annual or perennial 

 of short duration. Stems simple or branching from the base, ascending or 

 erect, 6 in. to a foot high. Leaves mostly spathulate and stalked, or the up- 

 per ones rarely linear, white on both sides as well as the stem. Flower-heads 

 about 2 lines long, in short dense clusters, in the axils of the upper leaves, the 

 lower clusters distant, the upper ones forming a terminal leafy spike. Invo- 

 lucral scales linear, scarious, but woolly, of a dirty white or pale brown. Her- 

 maphrodite florets only 2 or 3 in the centre of the very immerous females. 



Hongkong, ffance, Wright. This appears to be a N. American species, although it has 

 been received from several parts of the Old World, where it is probably an introduced weed. 

 Both this and the following species occur in many herbaria and botanic gardens under the 

 name of G. spathidatuvi. 



4. G. indicum, Linn.; DC. Prod. vi. 231. A decumbent or ascending 

 annual, much branched at the base, about 6 in. high, seldom erect. Leaves 

 stalked, spathulate, or the upper ones linear, the white wool much looser than 

 in the last species, and sometimes almost disappearing from the leaves. Flower- 

 heads scarcely above 1 line long, in short dense clusters, forming ovate or 

 oblong terminal leafy spikes, the lower ones more rarely distant. Flower- 

 heads and florets of G. purpureum, but much smaller. — G. uillacum, Eaddi; 

 DC. 1. c. 



In waste places, Say wan, Wllford ; also Wright. Very common in India, extending 

 westward to the Mile, and eastward to the Malayan Peninsula, N. E. India, and China. 



