S YNGENESIA FRUSTRANE A. 1 89 



258. ACHILLEA. 



1. A. Ptarmica, leaves linear, pointed, equally and sharply ser- 

 rated, smooth ; flowers white, corymbose. Sneeze-wort. 



Hab. Moist meadows and pastures, most common on a 

 moorish soil. July, Aug. I/. 



2. A. Millefolium, stem furrowed; leaves doubly pinnatifid, 

 hairy, segments linear, toothed, pointed ; flowers small, white or 

 rose colour, in a dense flattish corymb. Common Yarrow. 



Hab. Pastures and way-sides. June Aug. If. 



A useful plant in pastures, but too common to require to be 

 sown. The root is warm and agreeably pungent, partak- 

 ing of the flavour and salivating quality of the Pellitory 

 of Spain. An infusion of the flowering tops was once a 

 celebrated stomachic, but is now neglected, except by the 

 good women of Orkney, who use it as tea, and hold it in 

 estimation for its virtue in dispelling melancholy. 



III. FRUSTRANEA. 

 259. CENTAUREA. 



1. C. mgra, lower leaves somewhat lyrate, with angular lobes, 

 upper ones ovate ; calyx black, its scales oval, fringed with up- 

 right capillary teeth ; flowers discoid, crimson ; seed-down very 

 short, tufted. Black Knapweed. 



Hab. Pastures and road-sides. July, Aug, I/. 



2. C. Cyanus^ leaves linear-lanceolate, entire, lower ones 

 toothed towards their base ; calyx-scales serrated ; flowers sky- 

 blue. Corn Blue-bottle, or Blawort. 



Hab. Corn-fields not uncommon. July, Aug. 

 " The wild flowers afford a blue for painting in water- 

 colours, the expressed juice requiring only to be mixed 

 with cold alum-water." SM. " As blue as a Slaver," 

 was once a familiar comparison in the Merse, now intel- 

 ligible to few. 



