498 SYNGENESIA [Skbeoiokidsx 



**m4eovt$ 1 to 2 or 3 Inches lontf, sessile, with a loose flocculent tomentum at 

 base, lance-oblong, rather acute, pinnatifid, the segments subcuncate, dentate at 

 apex,-the lower stem-leaves often somewhat lyrate. Heads of flowers rather 

 small, in a terminal somewhat compound and coarctate fastigiatc corymb, the pe. 

 duncle-like branches subumlmllate, lanuginous at base, very sparingly bracleate ; 

 mvolucre smoothish, the leaflets linear-lanceolate, acute, purplish at apex, with 

 1 or 2 minute subulate bracts at base ; rays and disk yellow,-thc rays .near- 

 oblong, minutely 3-toothed at apex (lincar-lanceolate, deeply 3-cleft, AW). Ak- 

 em, oblong, angular-striate, minut.ly hispid or scabrous on the angles (naked, 

 JEW.), reddishtawney ; pappus capillary, white. 

 Bab. Moist sterile fields, and meadows: frequent. Fl. May. Fr. June. 



Obs This is oficn abundant in moist places on Serpentine banks, and other 

 sterile soils. Our plant differs somewhat from Mr. Elliott's description, and may 

 be distinct from his. Pursh and Dr. Berk cite the S. lyratus, Mx. (S. lobatut, 

 Pers Ell.) as a synonym of this ; but ours is widely different from that plant,- 

 a* I have received It from my friend, the Kev. M. A. Curtis, of North Carolina. 



f f Head", discoid ; branches of the Styles conic at apex. 



4. S. hiekacifoeics, L. Stem virgatc, paniculate; leaves lance- 

 oblong, acute, decpty unequally and acutc'y dentate, sessile and semiam- 

 plexicaul ; involucre cylindric-oblong, smooth, with linear-setaceous 

 bracts at base. Beck, Bot. p. 201. 

 Erecthitcs pnealta. Jiaf. Less. Syn. p. 395. 

 Hikracittm-eeaveb Sexecio. Vulffd— Fire-weed. 



Root annual. Steml to 4 or 5 feet high, stout, succulent and tender when young, 

 striate-sulcate, more or less hairy, sometimes nearly smooth, paniculately branch- 

 ed, occasionally subsimple and virgate. Leaves 3 to G or 8 inches long, and half 

 an inch to 2 inches wide, alternate, lance-oblong, acute, very unequally dentate, 

 with the teeth mucronate, sllahtly scabrous above, somewhat pilose beneath, espe. 

 cially on the midrib, and ■cabrous-pul.escent on the margin, narrowed below the 

 middle, sessile, sagittateauriculale and seml-amplexicaul atbase. Heads of flowers 

 middle-sized, often numerous, in small cymose corymbs terminating the panicu- 

 late branches; peduncles s -mewhat pilose, bracleate, the bracts subulate-l.near; 

 involucre subcylindric, slightly ventricose, half an inch to 3 quarters in length, 

 smooth, the leaflets sublinear, acute, scarious on the margin, equal, a little longer 

 than the disk, striate, with numerous subulate-linear or setaceous bracts atbase; 

 rays none ; florets of the disk numerous, very slender, whitish, or ochroleucous. 

 Akenes oblong, striate-ribbed, pubescent, dark brown ; pappus very white, copious 

 and silky-pilose, finally rather longer than the florets. Receptacle flat, naked, 



roughish-dotted. 



Hob. Moist grounds ; recent clearings, &c. common. Fl. July-Aug. Fr. Sept. 



Obs. This plant is remarkable for its prevalence In newly cleared grounds,- 

 especially in and around the spots where brushwood has been burned -,-whence 

 iU common name, "fire-weed." The specific name of sonchifoliu* would have 

 been more appropriate f »r this species.-as its entire habit is much more that of 

 a Sonchus, than a Hieravium. Ten or twelve additional species are enumerated 

 In the U. States ; and a number of new apecies.from Brittah America, art fi«ure4 

 by Prof. Hooker. 



