COMPOSITwE. 33 



Section II.— CYANUS. Desv. 



Phyllaries adpressed, with terminal appendages pectinate or 

 dcntate-ciliate, not spinous, decurrent along the edges of the 

 phyllary, but not reaching its base. 



SPECIES III.— C ENTAUREA SCABIOSA. Lmn. 



Plate DCCVIII. 



Eeich. Ic. Fl. Germ, et Helv. Vol. XV. Tab. DCCLXXIV. 

 Billot, Fl. Gall, et Germ. Exsicc. No. 2f!99. 



Roodstock woody. Lower leaves oblanceolate, stalked, gene- 

 rally pinnatipartite, with the segments pinnatifid, more rarely 

 entire or simply dentate; stem-leaves not decurrent, generally 

 pinnatifid or pinnatij^artite, frequently sub-lyrate. Ani bodes 

 generally radiant, on naked peduncles. Pericliue sub-globular, 

 generally glabrous; phyllaries with triangular pectinated dark- 

 coloured appendages. Elorets purplish-crimson, tiie radiant ones 

 with the limb divided nearly to the base into lincar-strapshapcd 

 segments. Pappus about as long as the achenc. 



In pastures, borders of fields, and waste places. Not un- 

 common in England, where it is very abundant on the chalk ; 

 rare in Scotland, and principally confined to the East coast, where 

 it occurs in Haddington, Perth, Aberdeen, and Moray. 



England, Scotlandj Ireland. Perennial. Autumn. 



Kootstock thick and woody in old plants. Stem 1 to 3 feet 

 high, generally slightly branched. Leaves firm, very variable in 

 the degree of division, but generally so deeply pinnatifid as to be 

 almost pinnate, with the segments again pinnatifid. Perioline f to 

 1^ inch across, generally with tbe appendages not concealing the 

 green part of the phyllaries, but appearing as black hovsesiioe marks 

 on the pericline. Achenes iron-grey, pubescent, Avith short still' 

 white pappus. Plant dull-green, sparingly pubescent. 



Greater Knapweed. 



Frencli, Centaurce Sixdilcuse. Gi'rman, ^cahioscnarlhjc Floclxi ill nine. 



This large species of Knapweed was in olden times called Jlatte felon, and its name 

 is snpjioRed to have been given it because its rough knobs wiTe suited "to .scouigp 

 felons withal." As early as 1-i 10 it was called Maude feloue, or Bullsede. " Th)3 herbe,"* 

 says the writer, "hathaflowre of jiurplish colour, and leaves y' like to tcibyose." 

 But iliss Prato suggests that iu those old times whitlows were also called felons; and 



VOL. V. F 



