98 TETRANDRIA MOXOGYNIA 



1. C. occidextalis, /,. Leaves petiolate, opposite ortcrnatc, ovate 

 •r oval, acuminate, smooth ; peduncles long, often tomato at the ex- 

 tremities of the branches. Beck, But. p. 161. Icoir, Bart. Am. :j. 

 tab. 91. 

 Wester* CxPHALAKTHrs. Vulgd—Builcm Bush. Tond Dog-wood. 



Stem 3 to 5 feet high (some old plants 7 or 8 feet high, and f> or 7 inches in di- 

 ameter), branched ; branches opposite. Beads of flowers al out an inch in diame 

 ter. on axillary or terminal peduncles 2 t<» 3 inches long. Calyx minute, persie- 

 tent; segments ovate. Curolla white ; the tube about one third of an inch long, 

 somewhat funnel-form, hairy within, smooth externally; segments obtuse, Sta- 

 metis short, within the tube of the corolla. Style filiform, twice as lone as the CO 

 rolla. Capsule tapering at base, 2-celled ; rolls eemi-bivalved ; outer valve an- 

 gular, inner valve flat, cuneate. Seed solitary, obovate-cuneate, somewhat trianr- 

 utar, partially coated with a white suberose kind of urillus, which is much thick- 

 ened at the apex. 



Hab. Margins of swamps and rivulets : frequent. Fl. July.— Aug. Fr. S'ept . 



Obs. This is sometimes a troublesome shrub in swampy meadows. Mr. Elliott 

 says the inner bark of the root is used, in the South, as a remedy for obstinate 

 coughs. As it is moderately bitter, it may probably be useful in certain cases, h 

 is the'only species known in the U. States 



K8. DirSACrS. L. Mitt. Gen. 130. 

 [Greek, dipsao. to thirst; the stem-leaves holding water at their junction.] 



Calyx minute, cup-shaped, entire. Corolla tubular, the limb 

 4-cleft, erect. Seed 1, crowned by the calyx. Jieccptacle conic, pa- 

 leaceous. 



Herbaceous biennials: aculeate, or roughly pilose; leaves opposite, mostly con- 

 liate at base ; flowers in terminal ovoid heads, with a many-leaved involucre at 

 base. Nat. Ord. 184. Lindl. Dipsacjbje. 



1. D. sYLYESTitis, L. Leaves sessile, crenate-dentatc, or serrate ; in- 

 volucre curved upward, longer than the head of flowers; chafl'of the 

 receptacle straight, flexible. Beck, Bot. />. 165. 

 Wild DlPSAcrs. Vulgo — Wild Teasel. 



Root biennial. Stem 3 to 5 feet high, branched, angular and prickly. Radical 

 leaves lance-oblong, crenate; stem leaves sessile, somewhat connate, serrate; those 

 of the branches lanceolate, often nearly entire ; all more or less prickly on the 

 mid-rib, and sometimes on the margin. Leaves of the involucre lance-linear, pun- 

 gent at apex, aculeate, curved upward and inward, unequal, the longest exceed- 

 ing the bead. Heads of flowers oblong-ovoid ; corolla pale purple; the 

 tube slender, and pubescent externally. Scales, or chaff of the receptacle, ob. 

 \ong-cuneate, keeled, abruptly tapering into a straight flexible awn-like acumina- 

 tum, longer than the flowers; those at the top of the head longest. Seed solitary, 

 angular, scabrous, crowned with the small cup»form hirsute calyx. 



Hab. Borders offielde; road-sides, &c. frequent. Fl> J*ly. Fr. Sept, 



Obs. This foreigner is becoming quite abundant in many neighborhoods,— par- 

 ticularly in the Great Valley,— where it bids fair to be something of a nuisance t» 

 the farms, if not attended to. The flowers commence opening in a ring, romad 

 tie imddle of the head, and extend gradually to the top and bottom ef it. 



