COMPOSITE FAMILY 



Although the Sweet Sultans are known as Centaurea moschata, 

 the garden race are doubtless hybrids of at least Centaurea moschata 

 and Centaurea suavholens, both species having been brought into 

 England from the Levant, one in 1638, the other in 1650. The 

 two species are often regarded as one, but the gardeners of Kew 

 hold them to be separate. 



The bloom is easily forced and the flowers are abundant in the 

 shops in the spring. When forced, growers complain of the 

 tendency of the stems to bend and curl, due, doubtless, to the 

 weight of the flower-head, but in the garden no such difficulty 

 appears. The plant grows readily from seed, is perfectly hardy, 

 delights us in midsummer days, and when its course is nm, passes 

 away. 



Botanically, the genus Centaurea, the Knapweed, is very near 

 Cnldus, the Thistle; the main difference lying in the character of 

 the outer flowers, the shape of the akenes, and the variations in the 

 pappus. 



CHICORY. SUCCORY 



Cichbrium intybus. 



Cichdrium, the Arabic name, coming through the Greek. Succory 

 probably from siiccerrere, to run under; referring to the strong tap- 

 root. 



A perennial plant, native to the Far East, now widely distributed as 

 a weed over Europe and Eastern America. Its bitter tap-root is used 

 as an adulterant of coffee. June to October. 



Root.— A deep tap-root. 



Stem. — One to three feet high, rigid, angled, and grooved, branching. 



Lower leaves. — Spreading on the ground, spatulate, deeply cut, nar- 

 rowed into petioles; upper leaves of stem and branches small, bract-Uke. 



Flowers.— Tsile azure-blue, rarely pinkish or white, set close to stem. 



Head. — Composed of ray-flowers, tip of each ray five-toothed; sur- 

 rounded by two rows of involucral bracts, the inner whorl long and the 

 outer whorl short and reflexed. All the florets are rays and all are 

 fertile. 



Akenes. —Short with broad summit. 



Pappus. — Small, chaffy scales. 



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