170 NATURE STUDY AND AGRICULTURE 
common in the composite family, and by these the wind 
carries them over the country. 
Prickty LETTUCE 
34. Prickly Lettuce. — In general ap- 
pearance this plant resembles the native 
blue lettuce or even the sow thistles, 
having the same smooth and fresh-looking 
foliage. It is easily distinguished, how- 
ever, by the sharp prickles on the under 
side of the midrib of the leaf. There 
are also some scattered bristles on other 
parts of the plant, and the margin of the 
leaves is studded with soft spiny teeth. 
The plant may complete its life in either 
one or two years, and is considered a 
very bad weed. 
35. Dandelion. — This weed needs no 
description here because 
everybody knows it. It is worth considerable 
study, however, as it furnishes a good example 
of a deep, fleshy, perennial taproot that is hard 
to kill; and of a composite flower with its 
numerous minute florets, followed by seeds that 
are provided with beautiful wings for their ef- 
fective distribution. The name means lion’s 
tooth and refers to the margin of the leaves and 
not to “ dandy lion.” 
36. Horse Weed: Canada Fleabane: Butter 
Weed. — It is exceedingly difficult to identify 
this weed from any description that may be 
given, but it is so common everywhere in gar- 
DANDELION 
dens, fields, and waste places that we should be able to name 
it. It is a hairy plant, somewhat rough to the touch, with 
