80 BRITISH HIERACIA. 



floccose, thickened at the top. Invohicrea globose, or sub-cyHn:- 

 drjcal ia bud ; ultimately oblong and ovate at the base ; very dark 

 (greenish black) or sometimes dull green ; nearly glabrous (usually 

 with a few scattered brittle white hairs) but nearly or quite des- 

 titute of setse and stellate down. Fhyllaries broad, of one colour 

 throughout ; inner obtuse ; outer ones frequently narrower : all 

 usually appressed, but sometimes (especially late in autumn and 

 when past maturity) lax or almost reflexed at the points. Pappus 

 dingy white. 



A very distinct but variable species, retaining strongly marked 

 characters under cultivation. It may be distinguished from others 

 of the group by its broad scarcely clasping upper leaves, usually 

 hairy stem and erect or ascending leafy branches and peduncles, 

 blackish green involucres and dark styles. 



A plant occurs near the hamlet of Clova, with a more branching 

 but much less elongated stem, broad strongly clasping leaves 

 loosely reticulated beneath, a more spreading corymb, and green 

 involucres narrowed to the base, which requires firrther ezamiaa- 

 tion. These characters appear to be permanent under cultiva- 

 tion, which circumstance makes me feel doubtful of its identity 

 with S. loreale. Specimens sent to Fries were however regarded 

 by him as belonging to that species. 



[S. VIRESCENS, which is described by Fries as differing from 

 H. loreale in having a taller and more leafy stem, leaves all sessile 

 (never clasping), light green involucres attenuated at the base desti- 

 tute of stellate down and almost glabrous, floccose-tipped phyUaries 

 attenuate upwards, and nearly yellow styles, is mentioned by him 

 at page 192, Symb. Hier. as a native of Surrey. Without some 

 opportunity of examining the plant referred to, in order to satisfy 

 myself of its being specifically distinct from H. loreale or M. triden- 

 tatmn (broad-leaved forms of which, very closely resembling the 

 description given of H. virescens, occur in Sumey), I do not feel 

 warranted iu acknowledging it as a British species.] 



