284 composite:. [Ta/raxacum. 



general either in Britain or on the Continent. It constitutes an excellent genus 

 apart from Picris, from whence it was removed by Vaillant, but imperfectly 

 reunited to it by Linnaeus, and again separated by Jacquin. Picris differs less 

 from Hieracium than it does from Helminthia. 



1 am informed by Mr. Rawkins, late of Hardiugshulefarm, that sheep are very 

 partial to the early radical herbage of this very rough plant, which in that neigh- 

 bourhood at least is known under the very incorrect name of Borage. 



***** " Receptacle generally uithout scales. Pappus Jilifonn, very soft, deciduous, 

 never feathery nor dilated at the base, silvery." — Bab. Man. 



XXXVI. Taraxacum, Holler. Dandelion. 



" Heads many-flowered. Involucre double, inner of one row, 

 erect ; outer of few short lax or adpressed imbricated scales. 

 Fruit subcompressed, muricated and suddenly contracted above, 

 produced into a filiform beak." — Bab. Man. 



1. T. officinale, Wigg. Common Dandelion. " Leaves runci- 

 nated toothed. 



"a- Outer scales of the involucre reflexed." — Br. Fl. p. 208. Leontodon Ta- 

 raxficum, L. E. B. t. 510. 



0. Scales of the involucre appressed, erect. L. palustre, Sm. Br. Fl. iii. p. 

 350. E. B. t. 553. 



y. Leaves finely and deeply pinnatifid, scales of the involucre close-pressed, 

 plant very diminutive. L. laevigatum ? DC. 



In meadows, pastures, waste and cultivated ground, on hedRebanks, grass-plals, 

 &c. ; abundantly. Fl. Spring and summer, and more partially ihe year through. 



n- 



(3. Marshy places near Eyde, Dr. Bell-Satler .'.'.' 

 y. On dry chalky downs. Ashey down, frequent, Dr. Bell-Sailer. 

 The var. ji., thought by Sir James Smith to be a distinct species, differs in hav- 

 ing the leaves less deeply runcinale, narrower, with more distant, less regular and 

 rather sinuate lobes, and by the scales of the involucre being erect or close-pressed, 

 though in the fresh specimens before me these scales are both patent and deflexed 

 on the same flower, proving the inconstancy of this character. 



XXXVII. Ceepis, Linn. Hawk's-beard. 



" Heads many-flowered. Involucre double ; inner of one row ; 

 outer of short lax scales. Fruit terete, narrowed upwards or 

 beaked." — Bah. Man. 



1. C. virens, L. Smooth Hawk's-heard. " Leaves glabrous 

 runcinate or pinnatifid, the upper ones linear sagittate amplexi- 

 caul, the margins plane remotely toothed, stem glabrous, panicle 

 subcorymbose, outer involucral scales appressed linear, inner ones 

 glabrous within, fruit oblong slightly attenuated upwards with 

 smooth ribs shorter than the pappus." — Br. Fl. p. 206. C. tec- 

 torum, £. J5. t. 1111. 



In dry pastures, fields, waste aud cultivated ground, on walls, roofs and banks, 

 &c. ; every where abundantly. Fl. Suae — September. 0. 



*2. C. setosa, Hall. " Leaves runcinate dentate or lyrate-run- 

 cinate, stem-leaves sagittate entire or inciso-dentate below, heads 

 erect, involucre about covering the pappus, margin of the outer 



