SYNGEX. POLYGz\M. FRUSTR. Centaurea. 249 



doubly wing- cleft, slightly hairy ; segments linear, 

 toothed, pointed. Stem furrowed. E. B. 758. C. 

 6. 61. 



Meadows, pastures. 

 Per. July. 



Distinguished from Achil. Ptarmica, by its compound leaves and 

 smaller, corymbose flowers, generally white ; often with a reddish, 

 or purplish ray. 



Stem erect, furrowed, about one f. Leafl. numerous, three to five- 

 cleft, variable. Ls. compounded of twenty or more wings, each 

 of which is subdivided into three or seven pairs of smaller wings, 

 which are again cut into three, or five-cleft, spear-shaped 

 segments. 



Leaves aromatic, astringent. An ointment made of the leaves 

 to heal up wounds. A leaf thrust up the nostril occasions bleed- 

 ing; hence the old English name, nose-bleed. The plant mixed 

 by the Dalecarlians in beer, during fermentation to increase its 

 intoxicating powers. The bruised leaves applied to wounds for 

 healing them. 



SYNGENESIA POLYG. FRUSTRANEA. 



CENTAURE'A.' Knapweed ; and Blue-bottle ; and 

 Star-thistle. 



* Calyx-scales fringed. 



C. nigra. Black K. Calyx-scales oval, fringed with 

 upright, hair-like teeth. Lower leaves somev/hat lyre- 

 shaped, with angular lobes ; upper ones egg-shaped. 

 Flowers discoid. Seed-down very short, tufted. E. 

 B. 278. Jacea nigra. G. E. 727. 



Var. 0. with radiant flowers. 



Pastures, road sides. /3. Near Oxford. Dill. Between Bladon 

 and Yarnton. Dill. Southleigh. Shotover Hill. Sb. This 

 var. not uncommon. R. W. 



Per. July. 



Stem rough, firm, stiff, angular, about tv.-o f. Branches alternate. 

 Ls. hard ; lower, spear-shaped, many of them somewhat li^Tate : 

 upper entire ; all alternate, but a little clustered under the 

 flowers. Fl. terminal, solitarj'^, red, hermaphrodite, commonly 

 without a ray, tubular. Cal. -scales black. 

 A decoction of the heads of this, said to have afforded relief in 



diabetes. f'Fith. 



C. Cyanus. Corn Blue-bottle. Calyx-scales saw- 



' From the Centaur, Chiron. 



