1072 DIOTIS. [CLASS XIX. ORDER 1. 
Root of numerous branched fibres. Stem erect, about three feet 
high, angular, smooth, leafy, mostly much branched, and purplish. 
Leaves smooth, dark green, cut into three or five lanceolate serrated 
segments, the footstalk broad, often winged, the upper leaves and 
often the lower ones entire. Flowers terminal, and on axillary 
peduncles, erect, or slightly drooping, not very large, yellowish green. 
Involucre of lanceolate membranous margined scales, accompanied 
with outer longer leafy ones. Jlorets tubular, the limb five-cleft. 
Fruit obovate, wedge-shaped, three angled, the angles rough, and 
terminating in an erect awn, rough, with reflexed bristles.  Recep- 
tacle with lanceolate membranous paleaceous scales. 
Habitat.—Sides of rivers, ditches, and watery places; frequent. 
Annual; flowering in August and September. 
This is readily distinguished from the other species, by its divided 
leaves and smaller flowers. The whole plant is said to give a good 
yellow colour to woollen or linen goods, and might be used as a dye. 
GENUS XXXI. DIO'TIS—Desr. Cotton-weed. 
Nat. Ord. Composi'ta. Juss. 
Gen. Cuar. Jnvolucrum hemispherical, imbricated. Florets all 
tubular, perfect, five toothed, contracted in the middle, auricu- 
lated cr saccated on one side at the base. Receptacle convex, 
paleaceous, its scales fringed. uit crowned by the lower 
persistent half of the corolla in the place of pappus.—Name 
from o+s, two; and ovs, wr0s, an ear; from the ear-like appen- 
dages to the fruit. 
1. D. maritima, Cass. (Fig. 1271.) Sea-side Cotton-weed. 
English Flora, vol. iii. p. 404.—Hooker, British Flora, ed. 4. vol. 
i. p. 300.—Lindley, Synopsis, p. 150.—D. candidissima, Desf— 
Santolina.—English Botany, t. 141. 
Root of numerous long tufted branches, the whole plant is clothed 
with a thick white coat of woolliness. Stem about a foot high, 
recumbent at the base, round, very leafy, branched in a corymbose 
manner above. Leaves oblong, obtuse, flat, crenated on the margin, 
about half an inch long, flat, flattered, persistent. Inflorescence 
loosely corymbose. Flowers sub-globose. Jnvolucre oblong, imbri- 
cated, very woolly. Jlorets yellow, tubular, the limb of five equal 
lobes, the tube contracted near the top, swollen on each side at the 
base into two compressed auriculated lobes, this part of the tube 
remains closely investing the fruit, while the upper part falls away, 
Receptacle with oblong paleaceous scales, fringed on the margin, 
Habitat.—Sandy sea shores, chiefly on the South and East Coast 
of England. 
