408 LXXTiii. cOMPOSiTiE. (J. D. Hooker.) [Lactuca. 



Comp. Ind. 267. Ohondvilla hastata, Wcdl. Cat. 3217. Sonchus robiistus, and 

 hastatus, Wall. Cat. 3249, 3250. S. Oyaniis, Bon Prodi: IQL JNIulgedium 

 cyaneum and robustum, DC. I. e. 249, 250. M. nilghenjense, Wight Ic. 1. 1144. 

 Melanoseria paniculata, Edgevi. in Trans. I/inn. Soc. xx. 80. 



Temperate Himalaya; from Kaslimir to Sikkim, alt. 4-12,000 ft. KiiasiaMts. ; 

 alt. 5-6000 ft. NiLOHKEET Mts. 



One of the tallest and most robust species, 4-7 ft. high, liut occurring in dwarf 

 and slender forms, from perfectly ghvbrous to glandular-hispid all over, the latter in 

 western specimens. Leaves sometimes a foot long and 4-6 in. broad, of various shapes, 

 rarely large and runcinate-pinnatifid, petiole sometimes a foot long. Inflorescence very 

 various ; the heads nsually subracemoso or the branches of contracted or spreading 

 panicles, sometimes as narrow as in X. graeiliflora, but this is rare ; ligules blue 

 purple or dark red. Achenes very uniform, \ in. long including the beak, quite flat, 

 irregularly ribbed, dark brown, suddenly contracted into a brown cleft tip in which 

 the white beak is seated; pappus J in., very deciduous, dirty-white, outer ring of 

 bristles distinct. 



Sect. V. Perennial tuberous rooted herbs, with soft ascending stems and ' 

 branches and very membranous pinnate or pinnatifid leaves that are scarcely, if 

 at all, toothed. Heads terminating the branches, pendulous, narrow ; peduncles 

 ebracteate; invol. bracts few, outer gradually longer: ligules blue or purple. 

 Achenes smooth ; pappiis deciduous. • 



15. X«. macrorliiza, ^oo/i:. /. ; glabrous or sparsely villous, branches 

 many from the root ascending long or short (sometimes reduced to a 1-headed 

 sca.pe) soft terete leafy irregularly divided above, leaves membranous linear or 

 elongate obovate pinnatifid or pinnate upper sometimes entire, pinnules or lobes 

 iisuaUy numerous oblong-orbicular quite entire, petiole quite simple or dilated 

 or winged with a very broad orbicular entire or toothed auricle, heads J-| in. 

 long terminating the branches peduncled drooping or inclined e-16-fld., outer 

 invol. bracts lanceolate very much shorter than the 6-10 linear-oblong inner, 

 achenes flat elliptic-lanceolate smooth narrowed into a white beak ^ the length 

 of the body, pappus silky white. L. Isevigata, Clarke Comp. Ind. 269. L. Hoff- 

 meisteri, Klotzsck in Reise Pr. Waldem. Sot. 81, t. 80. Mulgedium Irevigatum, 

 DC. Prodr. vii. 249. M. macrorhizum, Royle III 251, t. 61 ; DC. Prodr. vii. 

 251, Prenanthes laevigata. Wall. Cat. 8259. Melanoseris saxatilis, Edgew. in 

 Trans. Linn. Soc. xx. 72. 



Temperate HmALATA ; from Kashmir to Sikkim, alt. 6-16,000 ft. 



From 3 in, to 3 ft. high, in some Alpine forms reduced to a few leaves 2-3 in. long 

 and one or more 1- or few-headed scapes ; in its largest state the stems are as thick 

 as a goose quill. Leaves excessively variable, usually narrow and pinnate with a 

 slender rachis, sometimes reduced to a single orbicular oblong ovate cordate or hastate 

 lobe, upper sessile with auricled bases, lower petioled ; petiole simple and slender or 

 winged, the wing sheathing at the base or dilated into a large orbicular toothed lobe 

 clasping the stem. Heads from glabrous to densely villous, irrespective of the altitude 

 at which the plant grows or its other characters; ligules blue or purple, large for the 

 size of the head. Achenes J-J in. including the slender beak, about 5-ribbed oiT either 

 face, almost black; pappus equalling the aehene, deciduous, outer inconspicuous. 



16. Xa. Xaessertlana, Clarke Coinp. Ind. 270; perennial^ glabrous or 

 laxly -villous, stem short stout (or 0) leafy simple or branched from the base, 

 leaves very variable elongate pblanoeolate and entire or shorter sinuate-toothed 

 or pinnatifid acute, margins and lobes subentire, petiole or simple at the base, 

 heads J in. long subcylindric or campanulate 12-24-fld. terminating the branches 

 or subpaniculate erect or drooping black glabrous or villojls, outer invol. bracts 

 few linear or 0, inner linear-oblong obtuse, achenes flattened elliptic or oblanceo- 

 late suddenly narrowed into a stout' pale beak, pappus shorter than the aehene. 



