260 THE COMPOSITE FAMILY. [Hypocheris. — 
which, however, is sessile on the achenes of the outer florets, whilst on > 
the central ones it is supported on a slender beak, as in //, radicata. 
Although generally spread over central and southern Europe, and 
naturalised even in distant temperate climates, it is much less common 
than /. radicata, growing chiefly in sandy situations, ‘Thinly scattered 
over England, the Scottish stations are still fewer, and not recorded 
from Ireland.’ Fl. summer. [In a variety, H. Ba/berit, Lois., found 
in Kent, Shropshire, and the Channel Islands, all the achenes are 
beaked. ] 
2, H. radicata, Linn. (fig. 586). Cat’s-ear.—Rootstock perennial. 
Leaves all radical, spreading, narrow, more or less toothed or pinnately 
lobed, hispid on both sides with stiff hairs. Stems erect and leafless, - 
1 to 2 feet high, usually divided like Leontodon autumnale into 2 or 
3 long branches or peduncles, slightly thickened upwards, each bear- 
ing a few small scales, and terminated by a rather large head of 
flowers. Involucres near an inch long, narrow but somewhat thickened 
at the base; the bracts imbricated in several rows, the outer ones 
smaller, all glabrous, or with a few short hairs on the back. Scales of 
the receptacle long, narrow, and finely pointed. Achenes transversely 
wrinkled, all narrowed into a long slender beak with a feathery pappus. 
In meadows, pastures, and waste places, throughout Europe, except 
the extreme north, but scarcely extends into Asia. Abundant in Britain, 
extending far into the north of Scotland. Fl. swmmer and autumn. 
3. H. maculata, Linn. (fig. 587). Spotted H.—Rootstock perennial. 
Leaves all or mostly radical, spreading, broadly obovate, or rarely 
oblong, coarsely toothed or nearly entire, hairy on both sides, and 
often spotted. Flower-stem erect, 1 to 2 feet high, usually simple, but 
occasionally bearing a small leaf near the base, and terminated by a 
single large flower-head ; the involucre broad and hairy. The stem is 
rarely forked, with two flower-heads. 
In open pastures, and meadows, widely spread over Europe and 
Russian Asia, chiefly in mountain districts, although not an Arctic 
plant. Rare in Britain, but found in a few spots from Westmoreland 
and North Wales to Essex and Cornwall. Fl. summer. 
XXXIV. LACTUCA. LETTUCE. 
Annual or perennial herbs, glabrous or with very few stiff bristles ; 
the stems leafy, erect, and branched, with, (in the British species) 
numerous small heads of yellow or blue flowers. Involucre narrow, of a 
few imbricated bracts, containing very few florets. Achenes flattened 
or four-sided, tapering into a slender beak, with a pappus of numerous 
white and silky (very discoloured, stiff, and bristlv) simple hairs. 
A genus widely spread over southern Europe and central Asia. It 
has the flattened achenes of Sonchus, from which the only positive 
distinctive character is the beak of the achenes, but the narrow in- 
volucres and few florets generally give it a different habit. 
Leaves thin, on long stalks; with a broad terminal lobe, Panicle 
slender. Flowers yellow. Beak shorter than the achene itself 1. L. eee 
Leaves mostly sessile, rather stiff, oft-n prickly. Panicle rigid. ~ a 
Beak as long as or longer than the achene. 
Panicle rather loose, oblong or gd sets Beak about the jeer — 
- of the achene : - ; . 2. L. Seariola, — 
