COMPOSITE 109 



next four are oblong-spathulate, irregularly dentate ; and the 

 rest mostly lyrate-pinnatifid. S. squalidus has rather broader 

 leaves, but the first five do not otherwise greatly differ from 

 those of S. vulgaris. Two species are notable for the short- 

 ness of their hypocotyl, namely S. viscosus and S. poly- 

 cephalus. The first four leaves vary between ovate and oblong- 

 oval. The cotyledons of the second species are rather the 

 broader. Those of S. elegans are narrowly spathulate and 

 more like the general type of the extensive group with spathu- 

 late cotyledons reminding us of Tagetes. The first four leaves 

 are rotund and more or less angled or obsoletely dentate, while 

 succeeding ones are lyratf -pinnatifid with a rounded sinus. 

 The first twelve leaves of S. neelgherianus are spathulate and 

 merely differ in size and depth of toothing. Possibly the ulti- 

 mate leaves are also spathulate. An uncommon form is met 

 with in S. speciosus which has spathulate cotyledons, connate 

 at the base. The first leaf is broadly elliptic, while the four 

 succeeding ones are more decidedly elliptic and obsoletely den- 

 tate. The ultimate leaves are strap-shaped, pinnatifid and 

 dentate. The cotyledons of S. pulcher are inclined to be 

 elliptic. The first leaf is spathulate ; the second and third 

 rotund ; the fourth oblong, and the ultimate ones oblong or 

 elliptic, fleshy and unequally dentate. An unusual type occurs 

 in S. tetranthus where the cotyledons are broadly oval or 

 elliptic with long slender petioles, and the first leaf is broadly 

 ovate, slightly dentate and hairy. 



I pass on now to the broadly spathulate type. It is diffi- 

 cult to define the exact limits of this group, considering that 

 in rich soil or under otherwise favourable conditions seedlings 

 of many species sometimes attain exceptional vigour, and the 

 cotyledons develop greatly in length or breadth, or both. The 

 species of Centaurea and Carduus, or most of the tribes repre- 

 sented by these genera, have large seeds and embryos, and 

 their cotyledons therefore often attain a large size. The 

 Centaureas are represented by C. Clementei (fig. 482), which 

 has broadly spathulate leafy cotyledons. The first leaf is also 

 spathulate, entire, and trinerved, but is acute at either end. 

 Two or more of the primary leaves of C. ragusina are spathu- 

 late and entire, followed by some that are ovate and dentate. 



