320 THE COMPOSITE EAMILT. 



1. Meadovp- Salsify.. Tragopogon pratense, Linn. 

 (Eug. Bot. t. 434. T. minor, Bab. Man. Yellow Goat's-leard.) 



Stem erect, slightly branched, 1 to 2 feet high. Eadical and lower leaves 

 5 to 8 inches long or even more, shortly dilated at the base, glabrous and 

 slightly glaucous ; upper leaves shorter, with the dilated base longer in 

 proportion. Peduncles long, thickened at the summit, each with a single 

 head of yellow flowers. Involucral bracts narrow-lanceolate, 1 to Ij inches 

 long. Florets sometimes not half so long, but vai-ying from that to the 

 fuU length of the involucre. Achenes long and striate, the slender beak as 

 long as the achene itself, the hairs of the pappus long and very feathery. 



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

 except the extreme north. Abundant in Britain, extendnig far nortli into 

 Scotland. Fl. early summer. It is often divided into two or more species, 

 according to the relative length of the florets and involucres. 



2. Purple Salsify. Tragopogon porrifolium, Linn. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 638. Salsify or Salsafy.) 



It is difficult to assign any positive character to distinguish this from the 

 meadow S. beyond the colour of the florets, which is of a very deep violet- 

 blue or purple. It is generally of more luxuriant growth, the peduncles 

 more thickened at the top, the involucres longer in proportion to the florets, 

 and the beak of the achenes and pappus longer. 



In meadows and pastm-es, in the Mediterranean region, but only as an 

 introduced plant in central and northern Europe, having been long culti- 

 vated for culinary purposes. In Britain, confined to southern England, 

 where it appears to be well established in some localities. Fl. early summer. 



XXIX. HELMINTH. HELMINTHIA. 



Habit and pappus of Piaris, from which it only differs in the involucre, 

 of which the outer bracts are broadly cordate and leafy, and in the achenes 

 narrowed at the top into a short beak. 



1. Oxtongue Helmintli. Helminthia echioides, GrEertn. 

 {Picris, Eng. Bot. t. 972.) 



A coarse, erect annual or biennial, 1 to 2 or 3 feet high, rough with 

 numerous short, stiff, almost prickly hairs, often hooked as in Picris. 

 Leaves lanceolate, sinuate or coarsely toothed, very rough ; the lower ones 

 narrowed at the Isase ; the upper ones clasping the stem or shortly decur- 

 rent. Flower-heads rather small, rather crowded, on short peduncles, form- 

 ing an u-regular terminal corymb. Outer broad bracts of the involucre 4 

 or 5, rough like the leaves ; inner ones about 8, lanceolate, and much thinner. 

 Achenes ending in a beak, with a dense, white, feathery pappus. 



On hedge-banks, edges of fields, and waste places ; common in central 

 and especially southern Europe to the Caucasus, scarcely extending into 

 northern Germany. Dispersed over England and Ireland, but does not 

 reach Scotland. Fl. summer and autumn. 



XXX. PICRIS. PICRIS. 



Coarse, hispid herbs, with toothed leaves, and rather small heads of 



