V alerianacetz Centran thus. 



227 



1. C. ruber (fig. 120). An old inhabitant of cottage gardens. 

 A glabrous plant about 2 or 3 feet high, with smooth leathery 

 lanceolate or ovate leaves and crimson 



flowers in dense terminal cymes. The 

 flowers are red, crimson or white in dif- 

 ferent varieties. A plant of wide distri- 

 bution, and naturalised in some parts of 

 England. 



2. G. macroslphon. An annual of 

 compact habit, glaucous foliage, and rosy 

 carmine flowers rather larger than in the 

 preceding. A native of Spain. There is 

 a white-flowered and a very dwarf variety 

 in cultivation. Fedia Cornucopice is an 

 allied North African annual with lilac- 

 rose or carmine flowers. 



ORDER LX. DIPSACEJE. 



Herbs with opposite exstipulate leaves 

 and capitate involucrate flowers. Calyx 

 superior, enclosed by a bracteolate invo- 

 lucel ; limb persistent, cup-shaped, lobed, 

 or with five or more rigid bristles. Co- 

 rolla-tube funnel-shaped, often curved. 

 Stamens 4; filaments filiform, free, ex- 

 serted. Fruit indehiscent, covered by 

 the hardened involucel, containing one pendulous albuminous 

 seed. Nearly 150 species are known, included in six genera, 

 mostly Asiatic. The Wild Teasel, Dipsacus sylvestris, is a 

 familiar example of this small order. In this the floral bracts 

 are spinescent and exceed the florets. 



1. SCABldSA. 



Annual or perennial herbs. Leaves entire or pinriatifid. 

 Bracts of the involucre in one or two series. Eeceptacle 

 convex or columnar, hairy or with scaly bracteoles shorter than 

 the florets. Outer florets often larger. Calyx-limb cup- 

 shaped, surmounted by four or more bristly teeth. The species 

 are estimated at nearly 100. 8. arvensis is a pretty native 

 species with large flower-heads, lilac-blue, or rarely white. 



1. S. atropurp urea (fig. 121), syn. Asterocephalus. Common 



Fig. 120. Centranthus ruber. 

 (I nat. size.) 



