COMPOSITE 99 



on the inner face, or in cases where they are unequal, the 

 apex of the longer one is inflexed. 



The seeds observed may be most readily classified accord- 

 ing to the shape of the embryo, and that part of the achene 

 which contains it, regardless of the numerous modifications 

 of the pappus or calyx which have no direct bearing upon 

 this. One of the simplest types of the embryo is that seen in 

 the species of Senecio. The fruit of S. erucsefolius is short 

 oblong-cylindrical and suddenly narrowed or contracted at the 

 base. It is surmounted by a pappus of long scaberulous 

 hairs, and the embryo conforms to the internal cavity. The 

 achene of Senecio cruentus is covered with small papillae in 

 numerous apparently double lines. The fruit and embryo of 

 Odontospermum spinosum are more decidedly obovoid, and 

 the pappus consists of a few, short, stout teeth. The achenes 

 of Lonas inodora and Moscharia pinnatifida (fig. 485) are also 

 short and obovoid, but they are more or less compressed with 

 the embryo conforming. The cotyledons of the latter are 

 emarginate, owing apparently to the more rapid growth of the 

 tissues on each side of the apex. The pappus consists of 

 unequal hairs placed obliquely on the achene which is enclosed 

 by a large and curious bract. 



Many species belonging to different natural groups agree 

 in possessing narrow spathulate, linear or cylindrical fruits 

 with correspondingly narrow and elongated embryos. The 

 achene of Ursinia speciosa (fig. 478) is cylindrical, slightly 

 curved and narrowed towards the base. The pappus consists 

 of five oval or ovate, entire, hyaline scales. The fruit of 

 Tragopogon minor is cylindrical, slightly curved, more or less 

 ridged and prolonged at the apex into a long slender beak, 

 bearing the pappus. That of Ehagadiolus stellatus is also 

 elongated, terete or compressed. The fruits of Dahlia varia- 

 bilis, Lasthenia glabrata and Layia platyglossa are spathulate, 

 more or less compressed and narrowed to the base. Those of 

 Bidens humilis are linear, obtusely tetragonal, and much 

 elongated with a corresponding embryo. The pappus consists 

 of two horn-like processes. The fruits of Tagetes erecta, T. 

 patula and others, are thin, and much compressed like those 

 of Dahlia. 



