2io Umbelliferce Bupleurum. 



coriaceous obovate-lanceolate mueronate glabrous leaves glau- 

 cous beneath, and terminal compound umbels of yellowish 

 flowers with entire involucral bracts. The only shrubby 

 species of the family in general cultivation, and this is not 

 very hardy, and more curious than beautiful. South Europe. 



2. ERTNGIUM. 



Herbs with prickly foliage and bracts. Leaves lobed or 

 dissected or undivided, with rigid teeth. Flowers sessile, in 

 dense heads or spikes surrounded by a whorl of bracts. 

 About 100 species, from the temperate and warmer regions, 

 absent only from South Africa. Two or three species are culti- 

 vated on account of the bright blue colour of the involucral 

 bracts, which are of long duration. The name is of classical 

 origin, but its application is uncertain. The Sea Holly, E.marit- 

 imum, belongs to this genus. 



1. E. alplnum. A dwarf perennial about 18 inches or 2 

 feet high. Radical leaves on long petioles, undivided, deeply- 

 cordate ; cauline sessile, 3- or 5-lobed, with sharp teeth. Invo- 

 lucre multind, with spinose teeth, ultimately assuming a deep 

 blue tint. Flower-head oblong. Switzerland. 



2. E. Bourgati. Similar to the last, but with the radical 

 leaves triternately deeply divided, lobes terminating in long 

 slender sharp teeth, and the flower-head globose. A very 

 pretty glaucous green species, the involucres and stems at 

 length blue. It comes from the South of France. 



3. E. amethystlnum. About 3 feet high. Leaves about a 

 foot long, bipinnatifid ; segments few, long, and narrow, with 

 spinose teeth. A more branching plant than either of the 

 foregoing. Involucres and upper branches blue. A native of 

 the Tyrol, etc. 



3. ASTRlNTIA. 



Erect perennial herbs with palmately-lobed leaves, not 

 spiny. Umbels simple or compound, exceeded by the radiating 

 coloured involucral bracts. A genus of a few variable species, 

 which have received a great many names, and consequently 

 there is much confusion in the nomenclature. Natives of 

 Europe and Western Asia. Name from aarpov, a star, in 

 allusion to the umbels. 



1. A. major. Masterwort. A branching herb about 2 feet 

 high. Leaves on long petioles, with 3 to 7 lanceolate serrate 



