SYNGENESIA POL YG AMI A JEQ. Sonchus. 221 



The root cultivated in gardens for Asparagus. Linn, in Fl. 

 Suec. Before the stems shoot up, the roots, boiled like Asparagus, 

 have the same flavour, and are nearly as nuti'itious. With. 

 Gerarde, in his Herbal, observes, that in delicate taste, they far 

 surpass either carrots, or parsneps. The spring shoots eaten in the 

 same manner : but the Trag. porrifolius. Salsify, was usually culti- 

 vated for culinary purposes. 



PICRIS.' Ox-tongue. 



P. echioides. Bristly 0. Outer calyx of five, broad, 

 prickly scales. Down stalked. Leaves wavy. E. B. 

 972. C. 3. 51. Buglossum luteum. G. E. 798. 



Hedges, borders of fields. 

 An. July. 



Plard covered with stiff" spines, each growing out of a white tuber- 

 cle, bright, shining green. Fl. bright yellow. Upper Is. 

 heart-shaped, clasping the stem ; lower spear-shaped, inner col. 

 of eight equal leaves, each producing a winged, pui'plish awn. 

 Seeds appear beautifully wrinkled when magnified. Fl. some- 

 times remains open until nine at night. JVith. Agi-eeable pot 

 herb when young, aperient. 



P. hieracioides. Hawkiveed 0. Outer calyx of nume- 

 rous scales, much shorter than the inner. Leaves 

 spear-shaped, wavy, embracing- the stem ; root-ones 

 toothed. Down stalkless. Stem rough. E. B. I96. 

 Hieracium asperum. G. E. 298. 



Dry bunks, borders of fields, yravelly, or clialky. Sm. Headington 

 Wick, Bladon. Stanton Harcourt. Sb. (Between Ferry 

 Hinksey and Cuninor Hurst. Bx.^ Near Headington Wick 

 Copse. R. W. Between Headington and Shotover. R. W. 



Bien. July. 



Plant rough with short hairs, dark green. Fl. bright yellow, 

 with spear-shaped bracteas. Branches fuiTOwed, purple on the 

 upper side, and in their axils. Fl. from the side of the stem, 

 rising on branches lengthened out above that which terminates 

 the central stem. Fl. corymbose. Fruit-stalks loosely scaled 

 up to the cal. Globe of seeds and feathers a perfect ball. 



SONCHUS. Sow-thistle. 



S. arvensis. Corn S. Flower-stalks and calyx bristly, 

 somewhat umbellate. Leaves runcinate, finely toothed, 

 upper ones heart-shaped at the base. Root creeping. 

 E. B. 674. C. 4. 53. S. arborescens. G. E. 294, 



1 So called from the bitterness of the plant, picros, Gr, bitter. 



