262 THE COMPOSITE FAMILY. [Lactuca. 



The commonest form in the Mediterranean and Caucasian regions, 

 extending to some parts of central Europe. Bare in Britain, and con- 

 fined to the south-eastern counties from Suffolk to Sussex. Fl. summer. 



4. L. alpina, Benth. (fig. 591). Alpine L. — Stock perennial, with 

 erect stems, 2 to 3 feet high. Leaves much like those of Sonchus 

 oleraceus, but with a much larger, broadly triangular, and pointed ter- 

 minal segment. Panicle oblong, almost narrowed into a raceme, more or 

 less hispid with glandular hairs. Involucres narrow, of but few bracts, 

 containing 12 to 20 deep-blue florets. Achenes oblong, but slightly 

 flattened ; the hairs of the pappus of a dirty white, and rather stiffer 

 than in the other species. Sonchus alpinus, Linn. 



In moist, rocky situations, in northern and Arctic Europe and Asia, 

 limited in central and southern Europe to mountain ranges. In Britain, 

 only on the Lochnagar and Clova mountains, where it is now becoming 

 very rare. Fl. summer, rather late. 



XXXV. SONCHUS. SOWTHISTLE. 



Erect, leafy herbs, either glabrous or with more or less glandular hairs 

 on the panicles ; the leaves usually pinnately lobed or coarsely toothed, 

 and clasping the stem at the base ; the flower-heads in terminal panicles, 

 with numerous yellow florets. Involucre ovoid, with imbricated bracts, 

 and usually becoming conical after flowering. Achenes flattened and 

 striate, not beaked ; the pappus sessile, of numerous simple, white, 

 silky hairs. 



A considerable genus, spread over the temperate regions of the 

 northern hemisphere, distinguished from Lactuca by the sessile pappus, 

 from Orepis and Hieracium by the flattened achenes. 



Perennials. Flower-beads large. Involucres hairy at the base. 



Marsh plant, the auricles of the leaves narrow and acute . . 2. S. palustris. 



Field weed, the auricles of the leaves short and broad . . . 1. S. arvensis. 



Annuals. Flower-heads rather small and pale. Involucres glabrous 3. S. oleraceus. 



1. S. arvensis, Linn. (fig. 592). Corn S. — Kootstock creeping. Stems 

 2 to 3 feet high. Leaves long, pinnatifid or sinuate, the lobes lanceolate 

 or triangular, more or less curved downwards, and bordered by small 

 prickly teeth ; the lower ones stalked, the upper ones clasping the stem 

 with short, broad auricles. Flower-heads large, of a bright yellow, in 

 loose terminal panicles ; the branches, peduncles, and involucres more 

 or less hispid with brown or black glandular hairs. Achenes striated 

 and transversely wrinkled, with a pappus of copious, white, silky hairs. 



A cornfield weed, extending over the whole of Europe and Kussian 

 Asia, except the extreme north. Common in Britain. FL summer and 

 autumn. [Two forms are recognised as British : S. arvensis proper, with 

 glandular- hispid involucres ; and a more robust one (var. glaber, Lond. 

 cat.), with glabrous involucres.] 



2. S. palustris, Linn. (fig. 593). Marsh S. — This has the large 

 flowers, glandular hairs, and general habit of S. arvensis, but is a much 

 taller plant ; the rootstock scarcely creeps, and the leaves are narrow, 

 often 8 or 1 inches long, clasping the stem with long, pointed auricles, 

 and either undivided or with 1 or 2 pairs of long lanceolate lobes. 



In marshes, and the edges of ponds and wet ditches. Said to have 



