292 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



formations, and considers it probable that eacli hair is the representative 

 of a leaf. In the development, however, the corolla precedes the calyx, 

 which is often represented by a mere rim, so as to render it doubtful 

 whether a true calyx-limb really exists. 



The subdivisions of this Order are differently given by different authors. 

 The most recent revision is that of Bentham above cited. The Orders of 

 the Linnean Class Syngenesia correspond to Compositee. Tubuliflorae, 

 as above given, include the Corymbiferae of some authors, in which the 

 style of the perfect flowers is not swollen below the stigma, and the 

 Cynareae, where the outer florets are often neuter and the style is swollen 

 below the stigmas. The tribes of the Compositse established by De Can- 

 dolle depend on the condition of the style and its stigmatic lobes. The 

 characters of the genera are chiefly derived from the conditions of the 

 involucre, the cypselous fruit, and the pappus. 



Distribution. The species are more numerous than those of any other 

 family, more than ten thousand being known, and are universally distri- 

 buted, forming one eighth of the Phanerogamia of Central Europe ; the 

 Tubuliflorce are most abundant in hot climates, the Cichoracece in cold. 

 The Labiatiflorce belong almost entirely to extratropical South America. 

 In the northern hemisphere the Compositse are all herbaceous ; in South 

 America and some other parts of the southern hemisphere they are some- 

 times shrubby. Fossil Composites are first found in the Upper Miocene 

 beds (Saporta). 



Qualities and Uses. The plants of this Order are not generally charac- 

 terized by any very powerful properties: bitterness is the prevailing- 

 quality, accompanied by aromatic secretions in the Corymbiferce, and by 

 a special lactescent juice in the Cichoracece, which often contains a more 

 or less active narcotic principle. 



Among Corymbiferce may be noticed a number of genera possessing 

 considerable importance. The Artemisice, or Wormwoods, are numerous ; 

 A. Absinthium and pontica are Wormwoods proper, and with some other 

 species are used not only as anthelmintics, as their name indicates, but for 

 preparing the bitter liqueurs called Absinthe or Vermuth ; A. Dracuncvlus 

 is the Tarragon, the leaves of which are used in salads and pickles ; A. 

 Abrotanum is Garden Southernwood, used also for its bitter flavour. 

 Most of the other species have similar properties; the flower-heads of 

 A. Contra, Sieberi, pauciflora, Vahliana, &c. are known on the Continent, 

 under the name of Semen Cinse or Semen Contra, as powerful vermifuges. 

 A. chinensis furnishes Moxa. Anthemis nobilis, the Camomile, Matricaria 

 Chamomilla, and Pyrethrum Parthenmm are valued for aromatic bitter 

 and tonic properties ; the species of Achillea are astringent, or in some 

 cases pungent, which is still more the case with Anacyclus Pyrethrum, 

 called Pellitory of Spain, and A. qfficinarum, the dried roots of which 

 provoke an active flow of saliva, and are used as a remedy for toothache : 

 in a fresh state these roots are acrid ; and this is still more the case with 

 Maruta fastida. Arnica montana, a plant of the mountains of Central 

 Europe, is narcotic-acrid and poisonous, except in small doses ; its tincture 

 has a powerful influence in exciting the circulation beneath the skin with- 

 out producing vesication. Dorom'cum Pardalianches is said to have similar 

 properties, as also some species of Inula ; Inula Helenium, however, is 

 merely aromatic and tonic ; it is known under the name of Elecampane. 



