TEASEL FAMILY. 167 



' Annual. Stem 4 - 12 inches high, dichotomously branching. Leaves^ half an inch to 2 

 inches long, sessile, subdentate, somewhat ciliate on the margin. Fruit finally broader 

 than long. 

 Meadow banks and fields. May. 



Obs. This is found sparingly, as yet, in this country, but is a com- 

 mon weed in Europe. It is cultivated for a spring salad, and is brought 

 to the New York markets in considerable quantities. In order to ob- 

 tain it early in the season, it should be sowed in the preceding autumn. 



ORDER XXXIX. DIPSA'CE^E. (TEASEL FAMILY.) 



Herbs with opposite sessile leaves and no stipules. Flowers aggregated , mostly in dense invo- 

 lucrate heads. Calyx-tube wholly (or sometimes at summit only) adherent to the ovary, ; 

 the limb cup-shaped and entire, or toothed or forming a bristly or plumose pappus. 

 Corolla tubular, the limb 4 5-lobed, sometimes ringent or irregular. Stamens mostly 4, 

 distinct. Ovary 1-celled, with a single suspended ovule ; style filiform. Fruit membrana- 

 ceous or akene-like, indehiscent, crowned with the limb of the calyx, 1-celled, 1-seeded. 

 Embryo nearly the length of the fleshy albumen. 



The genus which is the type of this small Order, is the only one entitled to notice in this 

 work. 



1. DIP'SACUS, Tournef. TEASEL. 



[Greek, Dipsao, to thirst ; the stem-leaves holding water at their junction.] 



Involucre many-leaved, longer than the acuminate subfoliaceous chaff of 

 the receptacle. Involucel 4-sided, 8-furrowed, closely investing the 

 ovary and fruit. Calyx-tube adherent to the ovary, the limb minute, 

 cup-shaped or discoid, entire. Corolla with four erect lobes. Stout 

 biennials. Stems angular and prickly. Leaves opposite and often 

 connate at base. Heads large, oblong, the florets commencing to ex- 

 pand in a ring about the middle of the head, and gradually extending 

 the process towards base and apex ! 



1. D. sylves'tris, Mill. Leaves lanceolate-oblong, crenate-dentate and 

 serrate, prickly on the midrib ; involucre curved upwards, longer than 

 the head ; chaff at the receptacle straight and flexible. 



WILD DIPSACUS. Teasel. Wild Teasel. 



.Root biennial. Stem 3 -5 or 6 feet high, branched. Radical leaves 8-12 inches long ; 

 stem leaves sessile, subconnate those of the branches lanceolate and often nearly entire. 

 Leaflets of the involucre lance-linear, pungent at apex, unequal in length. Heads of flowers 

 ovoid-oblong ; corolla pale purple. Bracts or chaff of the receptacle oblong-cuneate, keeled, 

 abruptly tapering into a straight flexible awn-like acumination, longer than the flowers 

 those at the top of the head longest. 



Borders of fields, roadsides, &c. Northern and Middle States: introduced. Native of 

 Europe. Fl. July. Fr. September. 



Obs. This coarse plant is completely naturalized in some localities, 

 and is not only worthless, but threatens to become something of a nuis- 

 ance to the farms, if not attended to. A little timely care, however, 

 would soon subdue it. 



2. D. FULLO'NUM, Mill. Leaves obovate and oblong-lanceolate, smooth- 

 ish, serrate, the upper ones entire ; involucre spreading or reflexed, 

 shorter than the head ; chaff of the receptacle recurved, rigid. 



