4S CORN BLUE-BOTTLE. 



season, linger on until November. It is a 

 plant of the same genus as the Blue-Bottle, 

 and is called the Brown Radiant Knapweed 

 {Centaurea jacea). The plants of the whole 

 genus were formerly in high repute for their 

 supposed healing properties ; and ancient tra- 

 dition records that some one of these flowers 

 was that with which the Centaur Chiron cured 

 the wound in his foot, which had been inflicted 

 by the arrow of Hercules. Hence the name 

 Centaurea was applied to the whole genus. 



One species, which like our Star-Thistle has 

 spines on its flower-cup, was called the Blessed 

 Thistle, {Centaurea benedicta,) from the healing 

 properties which it was believed to possess. 

 It was said to cure not only fevers and wounds 

 of all kinds, but to be of great eflicacy in that 

 direst of diseases, the plague. In modern 

 times, however, not one of the species is found 

 to possess any medicinal virtue. 



