BRITISH HIERAOLA.. 51 



branched, and with 5 to 10 heads. Leaves firm, deep shining 

 green, with pale midribs. Eoot-leaves ovate-lanceolate, or (inner- 

 most) lanceolate ; acute, or sub-obtuse and apiculate; original ones 

 rounded j irregularly and usually very coarsely dentate with large 

 sharp teeth spreading or pointing forwards ; narrowed into rather 

 short or slightly winged and villous channelled petioles. Stem-leaf 

 large if near the base of the stem ; otherwise rather small, or when 

 very distant, bract-like. Peduncles spreading, much thickened 

 and with numerous scales on the upper part j setose ; supported 

 by minute linear bracts. Involucres rounded at the base, con- 

 tracted above. Fhyllaries acuminate or sub-obtuse, with pale 

 margins : outermost short. Florets bright yellow, conspicuously 

 {though shortly) pilose at the tips when in bud, ultimately nearly 

 glabrous. Styles pure yellow. 



Closely allied to H. argenteum, from which however it differs 

 conspicuously in its wild state, in having dark green (npt at all 

 glaucous) strongly toothed leaves, a rarely branched firmer stem, 

 and shorter peduncles. TJnder rich cultivation, besides retaining the 

 characteristics which distinguished it when wild, it becomes densely 

 rosulate with numerous leaves (sometimes 6 to 8 iuches long, bearing 

 enormous irregular teeth, ;J to f of an inch in length) and forms a 

 large repeatedly branched spreading corjmib. 



It may be distinguished from H. palUchcm by its rigid stem 

 and peduncles, deep green coarsely toothed leaves, and acuminate 

 phyUaries. 



