Anthemis.] composite. 263 



3. A. Cotula, L. Stinking Chamomile. Stink Mayweed. Vect. 

 Margin or Mavin. " Leaves bipinnatifid glabrous their segments 

 subulate, receptacle conical its scales linear setaceous, pappus 

 none, tube of the corolla 2-wingecl." — Br. Fl. p. 244. E. B. i. 

 1772. 



^. Leaves fleshy, dotted ; stem procumbent. 



In waste, pasture, cultivated and fallow-ground, on dunghills, by roadsides, 

 &c. ; far too abundant amongst corn for the credit of our agriculture. Fl. June 

 — September. ©. 



ji. In loose sand on the beech at Norton. 



Root annual, whitish and tapering. Stem about a foot high, much branched, 

 erect or ascending, solid, roundish, furrowed, smooth or sometimes a little hairy. 

 Leaves sessile, alternate, pale green, hipinnatifid, their segments short, linear, 

 various in breadth, rather fleshy, cut and bristle-pointed, smooth or slightly downy. 

 Flowers solitary at the naked extremities of the stem and branches, rather hand- 

 some from the bright yellow of the disk and the pure white of the broad rays. 

 Involucre hemispherical, cottony, its scales ovate or lanceolate, with a narrow 

 membranous edge and green central rib, closely imbricated in two or three rows. 

 Receptacle cylindrico-couical. Palem greenish, setaceous, curved, wanting to the 

 florets of the circumference and to those of the exterior portion of the di.sk, 

 extremely narrow. Florets of the dish golden yellow, very numerous, the tube 

 short, divided into 5 acute, short, fleshy and glandular segments. Styles broad, 

 flattened and grooved longitudinally, spreading; stigmas two flat brushes of gland- 

 tipped hairs or sets. Florets of the circumference neuter (without stamens or pis- 

 tils), their rays broadly ovate or elliptical, toothed, deflexed at night or soon after 

 the plant is gathered. Achenia very rough. 



/3. In this variety, which I at first thought to be Pyrethrum maritimum, besides 

 the fleshy leaves and procumbent stem, the paleae of the receptacle appear to be 

 broader or less setaceous than in the usual inland condition of the species. Plants 

 of very difierent orders and genera evince this tendency in the leaves to become 

 thickened or fleshy when growing near the sea. I have remarked it to be strikingly 

 the case with Solanum Dulcamara on the beach at Gosport and elsewhere, and 

 very conspicuously so in the common Box-thorn (^Lycium Sarbarum) in the gar- 

 den of the ' George ' hotel, Yarmouth. 



This plant is well known to reapers by the nameof Morgin,* and unauimonsly 

 accused of blistering the feet, hands and open bosoms of those employed in 

 making up the corn into shocks. That the imputation is well founded, the con- 

 current testimony of every labourer in the harvest-field leaves no cause to doubt ; 

 the general opinion, gleaned on numerous and minute inquiries, I find to be that 

 the irritating effects of the plant are caused by the seed when ripe, and are mostly 

 manifested in the lower extremities, from the close adhesion of the seed to that 

 part by their rough surface, aided by the friction of the shoe causing first abrasion, 

 afterwards active inflammation and even ulceration. I have been repeatedly 

 assured by the peasantry that they have known men incapacitated for work and 

 laid up from the injurious operation of this noxious weed for days together in 

 harvest time ; not one whom I have addressed but spoke feelingly on the subject, 

 often from his own experience. To myself the odour of the bruised flowers is not 

 unpleasant, nor am I sensible of any acrimonious property on continued handling 

 the fresh plant, and, though others have experienced the opposite efi'ect in a short 

 tinje, I apprehend that long-continued contact with a moist heated surface is 



* Of the etymology of the name Morgin I am quite ignorant, but there is a 

 story current of a Sussex farmer, belonging to the old slovenly school of agricul- 

 turists, coming before the revising barrister to register himself as a voter for the 

 county, who, on being questioned by that legal officer as to whether there existed 

 any mortgage on his farm, unhesitatingly replied, " Why, noa, sir, no great deal 

 oi Margin much, but a precious sight of Charlock ! " 



