Bupleurum.| XXXV. UMBELLIFERA. 187 
Flowers 2 or 3 together, in little heads along the slender 
‘ wiry stems. Bracts very small P x , ; . &. B. tenuissimum. 
Perennials. Umbels of 4 to 8 rays. Bracts shorter than the 
rays. . 4. B. faleatum. 
the B. fruticosum, 2 shrubby south European species, used formerly 
to be much planted in our shrubberies, but is now more seldom met 
with, being rather tender. 
1. B. rotundifolium, Linn. (fig. 419). Hare’s-ear, Throw-wax.—An 
erect, stiff, glabrous annual, a foot or rather more high, and remarkable 
for its broadly ovate leaves ; the upper ones embracing the stem, and 
joined round the back of it, so that they appear perfoliate or pierced 
through by the stem, the lowest leaves tapering to a stalk. Umbels 
terminal, of 3 to 5, or rarely 6, short rays, without any general involucre; 
the partial involucres very much longer than the flowers, consisting of 
4 to 6 broadly ovate yellowish bracts very unequal in size, the largest 
about 6 lines long. 
A cornfield weed, apparently indigenous to the Mediterranean region, 
but now widely spread over Europe and western Asia, and introduced 
into North America. Occurs in cornfields in chalky soils in eastern and 
southern England, but neither in Ireland nor Scotland. Fl. with the 
corn. 
2. B.aristatum, Bartl. (fig. 420). Narrow B.—An erect annual, slender 
but stiff, not much branched, from 2 or 3 inches to near a foot high. 
Leaves narrow-linear and grass-like, but rather stiff, 1 to 2 inches long. 
Umbels small, terminal, of 2 to 6 very short rays. Involucres of about 
5 lanceolate, green bracts ending in a fine point; the general one 
usually longer than the rays; the partial ones rather shorter, but still 
far exceeding the flowers. 
In stony wastes, very abundant in southern Europe and eastward to 
the Caucasus, more scarce in central Europe. In Britain only near 
Torquay, in East Sussex, and in the Channel Islands. Fl. summer. 
3. B. tenuissimum, Linn. (fig. 421). Slender B.—A slender, wiry 
annual, either simple and nearly erect, or more frequently divided from 
the base into several decumbent or ascending branches, 6 inches to a 
foot high. Leaves few, narrow-linear and grass-like, the upper ones 
very short. Flowers in little heads of 38 or 4, nearly sessile along the 
upper part of the stem and branches, sometimes forming little irregularly 
compound umbels at the top. Involucres of a few small, linear, pointed 
bracts. Fruits more conspicuous than in the other species, and covered 
with little raised dots or granules between the ribs. 
On heaths, barren wastes, and stubbles, common in central and 
southern Europe, especially near the sea, extending eastward to the 
Caucasus, and northwards to southern Sweden. Occurs in most of the 
eastern and southern maritime counties of England, and occasionally 
also found inland, but neither in Ireland nor Scotland. Fl. late in 
summer. 
4. B. falcatum, Linn. (fig. 422). Falcate B.—Stems stiff and erect, 
slightly branched, 1 to 3 feet high, forming at the base a short perennial 
stock. Leaves linear, ribbed underneath, the radical ones often stalked 
and rather broader. Umbels terminal and compound, of 4 to 8 rays; 
the general involucre of 3 or 4 oblong or lanceolate bracts, very much 
shorter than the rays ; those of the partial involucres also lanceolate, of 
a yellowish green, scarcely as long as the flowers. 
