408 COMPOSITE. CiRsiuM. 



Cultivated fields, road-sides, etc. Very common in the northern and western counties, but 

 as yet rather rare in the southern counties. In the neighborhood of New-York, and on Long 

 Island, it has appeared in several places, and is spreading rapidly. Fl. July - August. 



This is one of the most troublesome weeds in the Northern States, and was undoubtedly 

 introduced from Europe. In some parts of the State, it is known by the name of Cursed 

 Thistle. Owing to the deep and widely spreading roots of this plant, and their extreme 

 tenacity of life, it can only be eradicated with great labor. When it has taken possession of 

 a field, many farmers practise laying down the land to grass for several years, and destroying 

 the shoots as fast as they make their appearance. Without concert, however, it can never be 

 got rid of; for if suffered to form seeds, these are scattered by the winds in all directions, and 

 soon reproduce the plant where it had just been exterminated. 



45. LAPPA. Tourii. ; Endl. gen. 2892. BURDOCK. 



[ Said to be derived from the Celtic word Uap, a hand ; because it lays hold of every thing near it.] 



Heads many-flowered ; the flowers all perfect and similar. Involucre globose ; the imbricated 

 scales coriaceous, with a long rigid subulate uncinate point. Receptacle flat, bristly- 

 paleaceous. Anthers tipped with filiform appendages, caudate at the base. Achenia oblong, 

 compressed, rugose transversely. Pappus of numerous short filiform rough bristles, distinct 

 at the base, caducous. — Biennial branching herbs, with large cordate and petioled leaves. 

 Heads globose, small, solitary or somewhat corymbed. Corolla purple. 



1. Lappa major, Gcert. Common Burdock. 



Scales of the involucre all subulate, smooth or loosely arachnoid ; upper cauline leaves 

 ovate, the others cordate. — Gcert.fruct. 2. p. 379. t. 162 ; DC. prodr. 6. p. 651 ; Torr. <^ 

 Gr.fl. N. Am. 2. p. 463. Arctium Lappa, Linn. ; Engl. hot. 1. 1228 ; Pursh,fl. 2. p. 505 ; 

 Bigel. fl. Bost. p. 290 ; Beck, hot. p. 171 ; Darlingt. fl. Cest. p. 436. 



Root descending. Stem stout, 2-5 feet high. Radical leaves often 1-2 feet long, and 

 nearly a foot wide. Heads numerous, often clustered. Scales of the involucre with a minute 

 but very strong hook at the tip, by which the heads, when mature, stick to the clothes, and 

 to the coats of animals. 



About habitations, road-sides, and in cultivated grounds ; very common. Introduced from 

 Europe. July - October. An infusion of the root is a domestic remedy for colic and nephritic 

 afifections. The leaves are used externally for cutaneous eruptions. The ashes afford a 

 considerable quantity of potash. In sheep-pastures, this plant is troublesome, in consequence 

 of the burs becoming entangled in the wool of the animal. 



