318 THE COMPOSITE FAillLT, 



clasping the stem at their base ; the lower with a few coarse teeth oi- short 

 lobes ; all green, and rather rough with a few minute hairs, or shghtly cot- 

 tony underneath when young. Involucres globular, on terminal peduncles; 

 the bracts closely imbricate, so as only to show theii- appendages, which are 

 brown or black, and deeply fringed, except on the innermost bracts, where 

 tliey are shining and usually jagged. Florets purple, either all equal or the 

 outer row much larger and neuter as in the rest of the genus. Achenes 

 shghtly hairy, often appai-ently without any pappus, but really crowned by 

 a ring of very minute, scaly bristles, occasionally intermixed with a few 

 longer, very deciduous ones. 



In meadows and pastures, throughout Europe and western Asia, except 

 the extreme north, extending probably aU across Russian Asia. Very abun- 

 dant in Britain. Fl. all summer. The two forms, with or without the 

 outer row of large florets, are so different in appearance that it has often 

 been attempted to distinguish them as species, but it has been now proved 

 that they are mere varieties, and it is even believed by some tliat the same 

 plant will appear in some years vrith and in others without the ray. The 

 C. Jacea (Eng. Bot. t. 1678) is a variety, occurring occasionally in England, 

 more frequently in some parts of the Continent, with the appendages of the 

 involucral scales of a much paler colour, with a much shorter iringe, or only 

 jagged. This form passes, however, gradually into the common one. 



2. Greater Centaurea. Centaurea scabiosa, Linn. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 56.) 



A stouter plant than the hlacTc C, more branched at the base ; the leaves 

 deeply pinnatifid, with linear or lanceolate lobes, often coarsely toothed or 

 lobed. Flower-heads large, with pvu-ple florets, the outer ones always en- 

 larged and neuter. Involucral bracts broad, bordered only with a black 

 appressed fringe, leaving the green centre exposed. Pappus of stiff hairs or 

 bristles nearly as long as the achene. 



In pastures, waste places, roadsides, etc., throughout Europe and Russian 

 Asia, except the extreme north. Rather frequent in England, less so in Scot- 

 land, and scarcely indigenous beyond south-eastern Perth and Forfar. Fl. 

 summer and autumn. 



3. Com Centaurea. Centaurea Cyanns, Linn. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 277. Bluebottle or Cornfloiver.) 



An erect, branching annual, about 2 feet high, covered with a loose cot- 

 tony down. Lower leaves usually toothed or pinnatifid ; upper ones, or 

 sometimes nearly all, Unear and entire. Involucres solitary, on long ter- 

 minal peduncles, ovoid ; the bracts appressed, often ending in a minute 

 prickle, and bordered by a fringe of very small teeth. Central florets of a 

 bluish purple ; outer ones much larger, of a bright blue. Pappus about the 

 length of the achene. 



Apparently of south European or west Asiatic origin, but now spread as 

 a cornfield weed over a great part of Europe and Asia. Not uncommon in 

 British cornfields, and formerly much cultivated in flower-gardens, where it 

 wiU sport much as to colour. Fl. all summer. 



4. Jersey Centaurea. Centaurea aspera, Linn. 



(C. Isnardi, Eng. Bot. t. 2256.) 

 A biennial or perennial, much branched, very spreading or prostrate, with 



