260 THE COMPOSITE FAMILY. [HypocJictris. 



which, however, is sessile on the achenes of the outer florets, whilst on 

 the central ones it is supported on a slender beak, as in H. radicata. 



Although generally spread over central and southern Europe, and 

 naturalised even in distant temperate climates, it is much less common 

 than H. radicata, growing chiefly in sandy situations. Thinly scattered 

 over England, the Scottish stations are still fewer, and not recorded 

 from Ireland. FL summer. [In a variety, H. Balberii, Lois., found 

 in Kent, Shropshire, and the Channel Islands, all the achenes are 

 beaked.] 



2. H. radicata, Linn. (fig. 586). Oafs-ear. Rootstock perennial. 

 Leaves all radical, spreading, narrow, more or less toothed or pinnately 

 lobed, hispid on both sides with stiff hairs. Stems erect and leafless, 

 1 to 2 feet high, usually divided like Leontodon auiumnale into 2 or 

 3 long branches or peduncles, slightly thickened upwards, each bear- 

 ing a few small scales, and terminated by a rather large head of 

 flowers. Involucres near an inch long, narrow but somewhat thickened 

 at the base ; the bracts imbricated in several rows, the outer ones 

 smaller, all glabrous, or with a few short hairs on the back. Scales of 

 the receptacle long, narrow, and finely pointed. Achenes transversely 

 wrinkled, all narrowed into a long slender beak with a feathery pappus. 



In meadows, pastures, and waste places, throughout Europe, except 

 the extreme north, but scarcely extends into Asia. Abundant in Britain, 

 extending far into the north of Scotland. FL summer and autumn. 



3. H. maculata, Linn. (fig. 587). Spotted H. Rootstock perennial. 

 Leaves all or mostly radical, spreading, broadly obovate, or rarely 

 oblong, coarsely toothed or nearly entire, hairy on both sides, and 

 often spotted. Flower-stem erect, 1 to 2 feet high, usually simple, but 

 occasionally bearing a small leaf near the base, and terminated by a 

 single large flower-head ; the involucre broad and hairy. The stem is 

 rarely forked, with two flower-heads. 



In open pastures, and meadows, widely spread over Europe and 

 Russian Asia, chiefly in mountain districts, although not an Arctic 

 plant. Rare in Britain, but found in a few spots from Westmoreland 

 and North Wales to Essex and Cornwall. FL. summer. 



XXXIV. LACTUCA. LETTUCE. 



Annual or perennial herbs, glabrous or with very few stiff bristles ; 

 the stems leafy, erect, and branched, with (in the British species) 

 numerous small heads of yellow or blue flowers. Involucre narrow, of a 

 few imbricated bracts, containing very few florets. Achenes flattened 

 or four-sided, tapering into a slender beak, with a pappus of numerous 

 white and silky (very discoloured, stiff, and bristly) simple hairs. 



A genus widely spread over southern Europe and central Asia. It 

 has the flattened achenes of Sonchus, from which the only positive 

 distinctive character is the beak of the achenes, but the narrow in- 

 volucres and few florets generally give it a different habit. 



Leaves thin, on long stalks, with a broad terminal lobe. Panicle 



slender. Flowers yellow. Beak shorter than the achene itself 1. L. muralit. 

 Leaves mostly sessile, rather stiff, often prickly. Panicle rigid. 



Beak as long as or longer than the achene. 

 Panicle rather loose, oblong or spreading. Beak about the length 



of the achauo ... . . 2. L. Scarwia. 



