COMPOSITE 143 



Lapsana communis L. (Nipplewort) is widely spread. The lower leaves 

 are lyrate-pinnatifid, upper ones entire. Flowering heads small, many, yellow. 



HYPOCH/ERIS L. CAT'S EAR. 



H. glabra L. and H. radicata L. are common in sandy places, and H. 

 maculata L., with leaves often spotted above with dark purple, occurs in 

 mountain pastures (June-August). 



SERIOLA L. 



S. setnensis L. Annual, slender. Root-leaves entire or toothed, oboval 

 petioled, hairy; stem-leaves few, lanceolate. Involucre hispid with long 

 spreading hairs. Flowers yellow. Achenes long, club-shaped. 



Borders of fields and sandy places, uncommon. April-June. 



THRINCIA Roth. 



T. tuberosa DC. Roots formed of thick fibrous tubers. Leaves all radical, 

 sinuate or runcinate, hairy. Scape simple, with a single terminal head of 

 yellow flowers. Involucral bracts almost as long as the pappus. Inner achenes 

 with short beak. 



Cork-oak and other woods and shady places. June-November. 



T. hirta Roth, and T. hispida Roth, are quite common. The former has 

 leaves usually hairy, sinuate or almost pinnate, the latter has entire or toothed, 

 more hispid eaves and more slender achenes. The leaves of all 3 species are 

 radical. 



LEONTODON L. HAWKBIT. 



L. crispus Vill. Tap-root long. Scape erect, i ft. high, robust, hispid, 

 never scaly at the top. Leaves all radical, pinnatifid, greyish with numerous 

 stellate hairs. Achenes rugose, elongated at top, much longer than the dirty 

 white pappus. Flowers yellow. 



Dry, stony places in the hills. May-July. 



L. autumnalis L., L. VHlarsii Lois., and L. hlspidus L. also occur 

 commonly. 



PICRIS L. 



P. pauciflora Willd. A very hispid annual, 12-18 in. high. Lower leaves 

 lanceolate-sinuate or toothed, upper ones linear-lanceolate. Peduncles very long, 

 inflated above and suddenly contracted below the head, which is solitary and 

 inflated when ripe. Achenes very curved, as long as the pappus. Flowers 

 yellow. Involucral bracts boat-shaped. 



Arid fields and stony places, rare. May-July. 



P. Sprengeriana Lam., P. hieracioides L., and P. echioides L. (Ox- 

 tongue or Helmintia) occur more commonly. The first has oblong, sinuate 

 lower leaves and divergent branches to the inflorescence ; the second has obovate 

 lanceolate lower and half amplexicaul upper leaves, and fruit not beaked ; and 

 the third has its lower leaves sinuate-toothed, upper ones cordate, fruit 

 beaked. 



PODOSPERMUM DC. 



P. laciniatum DC. Biennial, a foot or so high, erect, leafy, glabrous. 

 Leaves mostly radical, deeply pinnatipartite, with linear segments rarely entire. 

 Achenes prolonged at base into a hollow foot. Flowers pale yellow, scarcely 

 passing the involucre. Polymorphic. 



Borders of fields and waste places. April-June. 



P. decumbens G. G. occurs near Ollioules, Le Luc, and Carqueiranne, but 

 is rare. Leaf segments very variable, the terminal one large. Involucral bracts 

 downy, especially at the tip, which is often recurved. 



