248 COArPOSIT.E 



then the two kinds of flowers may occur on the same plant 

 {inoua-Lious), or on different ones {dixcious). The 5 epipetalous 

 stamens usually have their filaments free but their anthers united 

 (syngejiesious). and there is often a tail-like appendage at the base 

 of each anther-chamber. There are two carpels united to form a 

 7-chanil)ered, inferior ovary, with i style, generally bifurcating 

 above, the sligmas lining the inner surface of the fork. The tube 

 of syngcnesious anthers in the perfect fl(;rets is generally formed 

 before the elongation of the style, which then grows up through 

 it, sweeping the pollen out of the anthers by means ot tufts of 

 expelling hairs at the summit of its two branches, which do not 

 diverge till afterwards. The Iriiit is a cypsele, or dry, indehiscent, 

 i-chambered, i-seeded structure, often crojvned by the pappus. 



For convenience of reference, the Order is divided into three 

 Sub-orders, comprising thirteen Tribes ; but one of the Sub-orders 

 and five of the Tribes contain no British plants, or any others of 

 great interest. The two Sub-orders represented in Britain are 

 the Tiihitli flora: and the Ligtiliflortr. In th^ Tiibulifiora: the florets 

 are either all tubular and perfect, or the disk-florets are tubular 

 find the ray-florets ligulate, the former being generally perfect and 

 the latter carpellate or neuter. The membfSrs of this Sub-order 

 have a watery juice. The Sub-order Ligtdiflorir have all their 

 "florets ligulate and perfect, and have a milky juice. Thev are 

 most abundant i]i the temperate regions of the Northern 

 Heinisphere ; the Tuhulifl inc in the Tropics. 



The Tjibulill>r(r contain a variety of principles, so variously 

 blended as to produce very diverse results Bitterness, in a 

 greater or less degree, is characteristic of many, and is often 

 accompanied by the presence of resin, or volatile oil, so that the 

 plants produce tonic, stimulant, or astringe'nt effects. The \\'orm- 

 ■vvoods {Artemisia), of whicli the Southeriiwood of gardens (.-1, 

 Abrbtanum), a fragrant shrub, used on the Continent in making 

 beer, is one species, and the Tarragon {A. Dracnnculus). used to 

 flavour vinegar, is another, are extremely bitter. The genera 

 Anthemis and Malriedria, the Chamoiniles ,and Feverfews, contain 

 an acrid volatile oil that gives them their properties as febrifuges. 

 The Coltsfoot (Tussildgo) and Elecampane {Inula Heleniiim) 

 contam gum so united with their bitter and astringent properties 

 as to render them valuable sedatives. -rhe oilv seeds of the 

 Sunflower (Helidntlius dnntins) are largely eaten in Russia, and 

 the Jerusalem Artichoke, the tubers of which hold a high rank 

 among our esculent vegetables, is another species (//. tnberosus) 

 of the: same genus. The latter grows freely in' any soil, ancl 

 produces abundance of tubers, though if r:{rely flowers in England. 



