SYNGENESIA P. SUPERFLUA. 183 



248. ERIGERON. 



1. E. acris, stem racemose; stalks mostly single-flowered; 

 leaves lanceolate or tongue-shaped, sessile; radius erect, scarcely 

 taller than the seed-down. Blue Flea-bane. 



Hab. " Links at Holy Island in a direction north from 

 the Castle, plentiful," Thomp. July, Aug. <J 



249. TUSSILAGO. 



1. T. Farfara, stalks single-flowered, clothed with scaly brae- 

 teas ; flowers radiant, yellow ; leaves heart-shaped, angular and 

 toothed, cottony beneath. Coifs-foot. 



Hab. Moist clay -soils common, one of the most injurious 

 of weeds. March, April. 7/ 



The flowers come before the leaves. In the bud they are 

 pendulous, erect when expanded and in vigour; when 

 they begin to fade, they contract their petals together, 

 and again hang their heads, lamenting, as it were, their 

 departed beauty ; but before long, the seeds being ma- 

 tured and ready to be dispersed, they rise again erect, 

 that the breeze may waft them more certainly to a soil 

 fitted for their germination in a future spring* I know 

 not a more interesting proof that the actions of plants are 

 not explicable on mechanical principles. 



The downy substance, on the 'under surface of the 

 leaves, impregnated with saltpetre, makes excellent tin- 

 der. A decoction of them in milk is a popular remedy in 

 pectoral complaints. 



2. T, Petasites, flowers flosculous, flesh-coloured, in a dense 

 ovate-oblong panicle; leaves heart-shaped, unequally toothed, 

 3-ribbed at the base, larger than those of any other native plant. 

 Butter-bur. 



Hab. Moist meadows, and the banks of rivers. April* 

 May. V 



250. SENECIO. 

 * Flowers without rays. 



1. S. vulgaris, leaves pinnatifid, toothed, obtuse, smoothish, 

 clasping at the base ; flowers dispersed, small, yellow. Common 

 Groundsel. 



