CYNARA. LXXV. COMPOSITE. 355 



C. TINCTORIUS. Coalman Saffron. SI. smooth ; Ivs. ovate-lanceolate, sessile, 

 spinose-denticulate. (!) 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. XERANTHfiMUM. 



Gr, ijpoj, dry, avSoj; 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- 

 qeolate, obtusish, alternate, entire ; Ms. large, terminal, solitary ; scales of the 

 involucre obtuse, scaricus, 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. KVt$b), to prick; well applied to these herbs. 



Heads discoid ; involucre vefitricose, 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. BENEDICT-US. Blessed Thistle. Lvs. somewhat decurrent ; dentate and 

 spiny; invol. doubly spinous, woolly, bracteate. 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. ovos, and ircpdo), the application to the present noble genus is notobvious. 



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 Thistle. 



Invol. scales spreading, subulate; Ivs. 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. KVWV, 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 plumoae ; 

 achenia not beaked. Natives of the Old World. 



1. C. SCOLYMUS. Garden Artichoke. 



Lvs. subspinose, pinnate and undivided; invol. scales ovate. 1]. 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. Tj. Native of Canada. Flowers purple. This plant is blanched b; 



