CYNARA. LXXV. COMPOSITE". 355 



C. TJNCTORIUS. Common Saffron. St. smooth ; Ivs. ovate-lanceolate, sessile, 

 spinose-denticulate. CD Native of Egypt, but long cultivated in other lands on 

 account of its orange-colored flowers. Stem branching, striate, 1 2f high. 

 Leaves subamplexicaul, smooth and shining. Heads large, terminal, with nu- 

 merous long and slender flowers. The latter are useful in coloring, and as a 

 nursery medicine. July. 



65. XERANTHEMUM. 

 Gr. ripos, dry, avSos; on account of its dry, imperishable flowers. 



Heads discoid ; involucre hemispherical, with radiant, colored, 

 opaque, scarious scales ; receptacle paleaceous ; pappus paleo-setace- 

 ous. (D Native of S. Europe. 



X. ANNUUM. Willd. Eternal Flower. St. erect, branched ; Ivs. oblong-lan- 

 ceolate, obtusish, alternate, entire ; hds. large, terminal, solitary ; scales of the 

 involucre obtuse, scarious, inner ones of the ray spreading, lanceolate, obtuse. 

 A singularly beautiful plant, half hardy, of easy culture. Stem 2 3f high. 

 The radiant involucre scales are of a rich purple, but there are varieties with 

 red, white, blue and yellow rays. The splendid flowers retain their beauty 

 through the winter. 



66. C NIC US. Vaill. 



Gr}'. KVi$b>, to prick; well applied to these herbs. 



Heads discoid ; involucre ventricose, imbricate with doubly spi- 

 nous scales ; ray-flowers sterile ; receptacle very hairy ; pappus in 3 

 series, the outer 10-toothed, the 2 inner each 10-bristled. Oriental 

 herbs. 



C. BENEDICTUS. Blessed Thistle. Lvs. somewhat decurrent ; dentate and 

 spiny ; invol. doubly spinous, woolly, bracteate. (T) Native of Persia, Tauria 

 and Greece. About 2f high, with yellow -flowers. Sparingly naturalized. 

 June. It was formerly in great estimation in medicine, but is now considered 

 worthless. $ 



67. ONOPERDON. Vaill. 



Gr. ovo$, and rrspjo), the application to the present noble genus is not obvious. 



Heads discoid, homogamous ; involucre ventricose, imbricate with 

 spreading, spinous scales ; receptacle deeply alveolate ; pappus copi- 

 ous, capillary, scabrous ; achenia 4-angled. Large, branching herbs, 

 with decurrent leaves. 



0. ACANTHIUM. Cotton TTiistlc. 



Invol. scales spreading, subulate; l-vs. ovate-oblong, decurrent, sinuate, 

 spinous, woolly on both sides. (g) This fine looking thistle occurs naturalized 

 in waste grounds, and is about 3f in height. The whole plant has a white, 

 cottony appearance. Stem winged by the decurrent leaves, which are unusually 

 large. Involucre round, cottony, spinous. Flowers purple. July, Aug. 



68. CYNlRA. 



Gr. Kvav, a dog ; the stiff, hard spines of the invol. resemble a dog's teeth. 



Heads discoid, homogamous ; involucre dilated, imbricate, scales 

 fleshy, emarginate, pointed ; receptacle setaceous ; pappus plumose ; 

 achenia not beaked. Natives of the Old World. 



1. C. SCOLYMUS. Garden Artichoke. 



Lns. subspinose, pinnate and undivided ; invol. scales ovate. ^ Native 

 of S. Europe, naturalized in gardens and cultivated grounds. A well known. 

 garden esculent. The parts used are the receptacle, the lower part of the in- 

 volucre and the upper portion of the stalk. It is cultivated from suckers placed 

 in rows. 3 feet apart. Aug. Sept. 



2. C. CARDUNCULUS. Cardoon. Lvs. spiny, all pinnatifid ; invol. scales 

 ovate. 7J. Native of Canada. Flowers purple. This plant is blanched by 



