222 SYNGENESIA POLYGAMIA ^Q. Lactuca. 



Cornfields^ hedges, chalky soil. Sni. 



Per. July. 



Figure of the Is. various. Plant three to four f. Cal. flower- 

 stalks, and upper part of stem clothed with brown, glandular 

 hairs. Cor. large, deep yellow, sometimes outwardly reddish. 

 Ls. the uppermost of all entire. Cal. after flowering swelling at 

 the base. L.-segments triangular. 

 A troublesome weed from its creeping root of oblong, fleshy 



branches. The flower follows the course of the sun very regularly. 



Flowers close between eleven and twelve at noon. Horses fond 



of it. Hairs of cal. and fruit-stalks pale green, terminated by 



yellow globules. 



S. olerdceus. Common S. Flower-stalks cottony. Calyx 

 smooth. Lower leaves runcinate, toothed. E. B. 

 843. C. 2. 58. S. lavis. G. E. 292. 



Cultivated, and waste ground. 



An. July. 



Shape of the Is. variable. Young flower-stalks clothed with a 

 white, cottony web, soon falling off". Cal. smooth, at first cylin- 

 drical, afterwards swelling much at the base. Flower-stalks 

 both axillary, and terminal, cymose. Cor. yellow. Upper Is. 

 oval-spear-shaped, saw-toothed on the edges. Stem brittle. 

 May be used as a cooling cataplasm. Young leaves in some 



countries are boiled, and eaten. Flowers open about six, or 



seven, shut at eleven, or twelve. Linn. Fl. Suec. 

 Horses and rabbits very fond of this plant. 



LACTU'CA. Lettuce. 



L. virosa. Strong-scented L. Leaves horizontal, finely 

 toothed ; their keel prickly. E. B. 1957. L. sylves- 

 tris major, odore opii. G. E. 309. 



Hedges, borders of fields. * Marston Lane. Sb. Side of the 

 New Road, going from Botley to Ensham. B.r. Between 

 Dunchurch and Southam, Warwickshire. B.r. 



Bien. July. 



Ls. deep green. Whole plant abounds with a milky juice, 

 smelling like opium : this issues on the slighest touch from the 

 calyx, and more tender leaves. Root-leaves inversely egg- 

 shaped, the rest, smaller, clasping the stem, waved, or indented 

 (toothed.) Floral leaves, heart-shaped, pointed. FL small, 

 palish yellow, their stalks with numerous small bracteas. Root- 

 leaves broad, entire. Light/. One leaf at the base of each 

 flowering branch. FL opens about seven, closes about ten, 

 forenoon ? 

 The extract useful in di'opsy, in doses from eighteen grains, to 



three drachms, in twenty-four hours. It proves laxative, promotes 



urine, and gentle sweats, abates the thirst. Collin. According 



