151 ANACYCLUS PYRETHRUM 



dorsally compressed, obovoid, smooth, tlie outer ones at least 

 drawn out at each edge into a narrow wing, more or less deeply 

 denticulate above forming a short scarious pappus, and prolonged 

 at the sides into two short auricles. 



Habitat. Though called Pellitory of Spain, this plant does not 

 grow wild in Europe; but is confined to Algeria, where it is 

 found not uncommonly in the higher plains at some distance 

 from the coast, flowering from April till June. It is also grown 

 for use in that country. As a cultivated plant it has long been 

 known in Europe, and is a very old though rather rare inhabi- 

 tant of English gardens, having been grown here by Lobel in 

 1570, and Gerard in 1596. It is said very rarely to ripen seed 

 in this country. 



The plant figured is that called by Ascherson A. pseudo-Pyre- 

 thrum (A. PyretJirum, Cassini, non DC., according to him), and 

 differs from the true plant in its smaller heads, greener involucral 

 scales, with the brown rim narrower, and a broader and more 

 denticulate wing to the fruit ; though these characters are easily 

 observed, the two plants do not appear to be distinguished in this 

 country, but are both grown under the name of A. Pyrethrum. 

 Of the figures quoted above, KeichenbacVs and perhaps Nees's 

 certainly represent A. pseudo-Pyrethrum 3 Asch. 



DC. Prod., vi, p. 15 ; Desfont., Fl. Atlantica. p. 287 ; Ascherson, 

 in Bonplandia, 1858, p. 118 ; Lindl., Fl. Med., p. 460. 



Official Part and Names. PYEETHEI EADIX ; the root (B. P.). 

 The root (I. P.). PYRETHRUM ; the root (U. S. P. Secondary). 



Collection and Commerce. Pellitory root is chiefly collected in 

 Algeria, from whence it is exported either by way of Oran and 

 Algiers ; or it is forwarded from Algeria to Tunis, then shipped 

 to Leghorn and Egypt, and from Egypt it is exported in large 

 quantities to India. 



General Characters and Composition. Pellitory root, Pellitory, 

 or as it is also called Pellitory of Spain, occurs in pieces, which 

 on an average are about the thickness and length of the little 

 finger, but varying in these respects from about 2 to 4 inches in 



