CLASS XIX. ORDER It. | SENECIO. 1081 
yellow, those of the ray with an ovate three toothed limb, of the disk 
tubular, toothed on the margin. /ruit oblong, angular, hispid. 
Pappus of long rough white spreading hairs. 
Habitat—Chalky and sandy soil in the Middle and South of 
England. 
Perennial ; flowering in May and June. 
GENUS XXXVIII. SENE’CIO.—Liny. Groundsel. 
Nat. Ord. Comprosi tm. Juss. 
Gen. Cuan. Jnvolucrum cylindrical, or conical, of numerous linear 
equal scales, and several smaller ones scattered at the base, the 
tips mostly brown or black. lorets of the ray ligulate, some- 
times wanting. Receptacle naked. J rwit suleated. Pappus 
hairy.—Name from senew, an old man ; so called from the bald 
receptacles resembling a bald head. 
* Hlowers without rays. 
1. &. vulga'ris, Linn. (Fig. 1284.) Common Groundsel. Leaves 
pinnatifid, toothed, the lower petiolated, the upper sessile, auriculated, 
semi-amplexicaul ; involucre scales black, tipped, those at the base 
very short; florets of the ray simple, not ligulate. 
English Botany, t. 747.—English Flora, vol. iii. p. 429.—Hooker, 
British Flora, ed. 4. vol. i. p. 304.—Lindley, Synopsis, p. 146. 
Root long simple fibres, the whole plant smooth, or loosely covered 
over with a white cobweb-like pubescence. Stem erect, about a foot 
high, round, striated, more or less branched, leafy, pale purplish. 
Leaves bright green, pinnatifid, the lobes oblong, obtuse, toothed, the 
lower ones oblong, obovate, tapering into a footstalk, the upper 
sessile, auriculated at the base, and half embracing the stem. In/flo- 
rescence a terminal corymb of few or many flowers, terminating the 
stem and branches. Jnvolucre cylindrical, of linear black tipped 
scales, those at the base small, and almost all black. Slorets yellow, 
tubular, small, the limb five toothed, all the same. /rwit oblong, 
furrowed, rough, with short hairs. Pappus white silky hairs, 
spreading. 
Habitat.—Waste ground, fields, gardens, &c. ; common. 
Annual ; flowering during the summer months. 
This is a very troublesome weed in gardens and ill cultivated 
grounds. It is the favourite food of many small birds, when gathered 
fresh and put upon their cages. It has also been used as a poultice 
to indolent tumours, ulcers, &c.; but for this purpose it is not now 
in any repute. 
« Flowers rayed, the rays rolled close back. 
2. S. visco'sus, Linn. (Fig. 1285.) Stinking Groundsel. Leaves 
