210 Unbelhifere—Bupleurum. 
coriaceous obovate-lanceolate mucronate glabrous leaves glau- 
cous beneath, and terminal compound umbels of yellowish 
flowers with entire involucral bracts. The only shrubby 
species of the family in general cultivation, and this is not 
very hardy, and more curious than beautiful. South Europe. 
2, ERYNGIUM. 
Herbs with prickly foliage and bracts. Leaves lobed or 
dissected or undivided, with rigid teeth. Flowers sessile, in 
dense heads or spikes surrounded by a whorl of bracts, 
About 100 species, from the temperate and warmer regions, 
absent only from South Africa. Two or three species are culti- 
vated on account of the bright blue colour of the involucral 
bracts, which are of long duration. The name is of classical 
origin, but its application is uncertain. The Sea Holly, EL. marit- 
imum, belongs to this genus. 
1. £. alpinwm.—aA dwarf perennial about 18 inches or 2 
feet high. Radical leaves on long petioles, undivided, deeply- 
cordate ; cauline sessile, 3- or 5-lobed, with sharp teeth. Invo- 
lucre multifid, with spinose teeth, ultimately assuming a deep 
blue tint. Flower-head oblong. Switzerland. 
2. &. Bowrgati.—Similar to the last, but with the radical 
leaves triternately deeply divided, lobes terminating in long 
slender sharp teeth, and the flower-head globose. A very 
pretty glaucous green species, the involucres and stems at 
length blue. It comes from the South of France. 
3. EL. amethystinum.—About 3 feet high. Leaves about a 
foot long, bipinnatifid; segments few, long, and narrow, with 
spinose teeth. A more branching plant than either of the 
foregoing. Involucres and upper branches blue. A native of 
the Tyrol, ete. 
3. ASTRANTIA. 
Erect perennial herbs with palmately-lobed leaves, not 
spiny. Umbels simple or compound, exceeded by the radiating 
coloured involucral bracts. A genus of a few variable species, 
which have received a great many names, and consequently 
there is much confusion in the nomenclature. Natives of 
Europe and Western Asia. Name from dotpor, a star, in 
allusion to the umbels. 
1. A. miyjor. Masterwort.—A branching herb about 2 feet 
high. Leaves on long petioles, with 3 to 7 lanceolate serrate 
