Tragopogon. | XLIII. COMPOSITA. 257 
and striate, the slender beak as long as the achene itself, the hairs of 
the pappus long and very feathery. 
In meadows and rich pastures, throughout Europe and western Asia, 
except the extreme north. Abundant in Britain, extending far north 
into Scotland. Fl. early summer. [7 minor, Fries., with small flowers 
only half as long in the bracts, is by many regarded as a different 
species. ] 
2. T. porrifolius, Linn. (fig. 579). Purple S., Salstfy.—It is difficult 
to assign any positive character to distinguish this from 7. pratensis 
beyond the colour of the florets, which is of a very deep violet-blue or 
purple. It is generally of more luxuriant growth, the peduncles more 
thickened at the top, the involucres longer in proportion to the florets, 
and the beak of the achenes and pappus longer. 
In meadows and pastures, in the Mediterranean region, but only as 
an introduced plant in central and northern Europe, having been long 
cultivated for culinary purposes. In Britain, confined to southern Eng- 
land, where it is established in some localities. Fl. early summer. 
2 
XXX. HELMINTHIA. HELMINTH. 
Habit and pappus of Picris, from which it only differs in the involucre, 
of which the outer bracts are broadly cordate and leafy, and in the 
achenes narrowed at the top into a short beak. [In recent botanical 
works this genus is reduced to Picris.] 
1. H. echioides, Gertn. (fig. 580). Oa-tongue.—A coarse, erect 
annual or biennial, 1 to 2 or 3 feet high, rough with numerous short, 
stiff, almost prickly hairs, often hooked asin Pieris. Leaves lanceolate, 
sinuate or coarsely toothed, very rough ; the lower ones narrowed at the 
base ; the upper ones clasping the stem or shortly decurrent. Flower- 
heads rather small, rather crowded, on short peduncles, forming an 
irregular terminal corymb. Outer broad bracts of the involucre 4 or 5, 
rough like the leaves ; inner ones about 8, lanceolate, and much thinner. 
Achenes ending in a beak, with a dense, white, feathery pappus. Picris 
echioides, Linn. 
On hedge-banks, edges of fields, and waste places ; common in central 
and especially southern Europe to the Caucasus, scarcely extending into 
northern Germany. Dispersed over England and south-east Scotland ; 
east Ireland rare. Fl. summer and autumn. 
“XXX1. PICRIS. PICRIS. 
Coarse, hispid herbs, with toothed leaves, and rather small heads of 
yellow flowers, in a loose, irregular corymb. Involucre of several nearly 
equal, erect, inner bracts, with 2 or 3 outer rows of smaller ones, usually 
Spreading. Achenes transversely striated, not beaked, with a whitish 
pappus, of which the inner hairs at least are feathery. 
A genus containing but few species, natives of Europe and temperate 
Asia, having much the appearance of Hiecracitum and Crepis, but readily 
distinguished by the feathery pappus. 
1. P. hieracioides, Linn. (fig. 581). Hawkweed P.—A biennial, 1 to 
2 or 3. feet high, covered with short, rough hairs, most of whieh. are 
; R 
