COMPOSITE. 141 



It embraces nearly 140 species, most of which are natives of 

 Europe, and the countries adjacent on the south and southeast ; 

 77 have been cultivated in England or found native. 



C. nigra. L. Black Knapweed. A coarse and trouble- 

 some weed in the pastures and meadows of England, and intro- 

 duced and naturalized in a few places ; Medford and Charlestown ; 

 July and August. Stem 2 feet high, branching and angular, with 

 lyrate leaves below, entire leaves above, having purple solitary 

 flowers. 



C. cyaneus. L. Blue Bottle. A common ornamental flower 

 in gardens, with funnel-form ray-flowers, blue, and whitish-blue ; 

 a common weed over Europe, and also used as a border-plant. 

 Loudon. Partially naturalized. 



C. benedicta. L. Blessed Thistle. Named for its supposed 

 medicinal properties. It is common in gardens for ornament. 

 A native of Spain. 



Iva. L. 17. 4. 



A North American genus of 5 species, found chiefly at the 

 South ; said to be named because the odor resembles that of the 

 ancient Iva. Loudon. 



I. frutescens. L. Marsh Elder. Highwater Shrub. Grows 

 about salt marshes, fleshy, and rather shrubby, with nearly axillary 

 branches ; leaves roughish, serrate, ovate-lanceolate, 3-nerved ; 

 flowers small, green, drooping, in racemes. 



Calendula. L. 17. 4. Marygold. 



Named from the Latin for the beginning of a month, because it 

 blossoms every month ; about 30 species, belonging to Europe and 

 the adjacent countries, and the Cape of Good Hope. 



C. officinalis. L. Pot Marygold. A native of the South of 

 Europe, and cultivated from time immemorial ; used formerlv in 

 soups to give color and flavor, and for its supposed many \ ir- 



