ye XLIL COMPOSITE. — 255 
slightly cottony underneath when young. Involucres globular, on ter- 
minal peduncles ; the bracts closely imbricate, so as only to show their 
appendages, which are brown or black, and deeply fringed, except on 
the innermost bracts, where they are shining and usually jagged. 
Florets purple, either all equal or the outer row much larger and neuter 
as in the rest of the genus. Achenes slightly hairy, often apparently 
without any pappus, but really crowned by a ring of very minute, 
scaly bristles, occasionally intermixed with a few longer, very de- 
ciduous ones. | 
In meadows and pastures, throughout Europe and western Asia, 
except the extreme north, extending probably all across Russian Asia. 
Very abundant in Britain. Fl. all summer. The two forms, with or 
without the outer row of large florets, are so different in appearance 
that it has often been attempted to distinguish them as species, but it 
has been now proved that they are mere varieties, and it is even 
believed by some that the same plant will appear in some years with 
and in others without the ray. C. decipiens, 'Thuill., is a variety, occur- 
ring in Sussex, more frequently in some parts of the Continent, with 
the appendages of the involucral scales of a much paler colour, with a 
‘much shorter fringe, or only jagged. This form passes, however, 
gradually into the common one. 
2, C. Scabiosa, Linn. (fig. 573). Greater C—A stouter plant than 
C. nigra, more branched at the base; the leaves deeply pinnatifid, with 
linear or lanceolate lobes, often coarsely toothed or lobed. Flower- 
heads large, with purple florets, the outer ones always enlarged and 
neuter. Involucral bracts broad, bordered only with a black appressed 
fringe, leaving the green centre exposed. Pappus of stiff hairs or 
bristles nearly as long as the achene. 
In pastures, waste places, roadsides, &c., throughout Europe and 
Russian Asia, except the extreme north. Rather frequent in England, 
less so in Scotland, and scarcely indigenous beyond south-eastern Perth 
and Yorfar, local and rare in Ireland. Fl. summer and autumn. 
3. C. Cyanus, Linn. (fig. 574). Bluebottle or Cornflower.—An erect, 
branching annual, about 2 feet high, covered with a loose cottony down. 
Lower leaves usually toothed or pinnatifid; upper ones, or sometimes 
nearly all, linear and entire. Involucres solitary, on long terminal 
peduncles, ovoid; the bracts appressed, often ending in a minute 
prickle, and bordered by a fringe of very small teeth. Central florets. 
of a bluish purple; outer ones much larger, of a bright blue. Pappus 
about the length of the achene. 
Apparently of south European or west Asiatic origin, but now spread 
as a cornfield weed over a great part of Europe and Asia. Not un- 
common in British cornfields, and formerly much cultivated in flower- 
gardens, where it will sport much as to colour. Fl, all summer. - 
4, ©. aspera, Linn. (fig. 575). Guernsey C.—A biennial or perennial, 
much branched, very spreading or prostrate, with hard but not thick 
branches, glabrous, or rough with minute hairs. Leaves narrow; the 
lower ones pinnatifid, the upper ones entire. Flower-heads solitary at 
the ends of the branches, with 1 or 2 leaves close under them. In- 
volucres about the size of those of C. Cyanus, with appressed glabrous 
bracts, not fringed, but most or all of them ending in a palmate appen- 
dace of 5 minute prickles or points. (©. Zsnardi, Linn. 
