Filago.| «XLII, COMPOSITE. 231 
and reappearing in western extratropical America. In the previous editions 
of this work it was included in G'naphalium, some species of which it 
closely resembles, but the general revision of the order has shown the 
necessity of keeping it distinct. 
Clusters of flower-heads few, globular and terminal, each with 
numerous flower-heads : : 2 : ; ° ; . lL. #. germanica, 
Clusters numerous, lateral and terminal, with less than 10 heads 
in each. 
Leaves linear-lanceolate . 4 3 A . : : ; . 2. F. minima. 
Leaves linear-subulate . : : : : , ° ; . 3 F, gallica. 
1. F. germanica, Linn. (fig. 503). Common Filago, Cudweed.—An 
_ erect cottony annual, about 6 to 8 inches high, simple or branched at the 
base; each stem terminated either by asingle globular cluster of flower- 
heads, or throwing out immediately under it 2 or 3 branches, each ending 
in a similar cluster. Leaves erect, lanceolate or linear, pointed or obtuse, 
sometimes spathulate ; those under the clusters shorter or rather longer 
than the clusters themselves. Flower-heads very small, about 12 to 20 or 
30 in each cluster ; the involucres ovoid-conical, more or less angular, of a 
pale yellow or brown ; the bracts usually acute. Florets shorter than the 
involucres; the outer filiform ones mostly concealed among the scales of 
the receptacle (or inner bracts of the involucre), with a few, chiefly tubular, 
in the centre, without scales. 
In dry pastures, and stony or sandy wastes, over the whole of Europe and 
western Asia except the extreme north. Abundant in England and Ireland, 
rather lessso in Scotland. Fl. the whole summer. It has been subdivided 
into several supposed species, upon characters derived from the shorter or 
longer, and more or less obtuse or acute floral leaves, from the quantity of 
cotton on the involucres, and from their obtuse or acute bracts. [Of these 
F. apicaluta, G. K., Sm., is a tall variety with purplish boat-shaped bracts, 
and F’, spathulata, Preal., a short one with broader leaves, confined to the 
east or south-east of England. | 7 
2. F.minima, Willd. (fig. 504). Meld Filago.—A much more slender 
and smaller annual than F. germanica, which it otherwise resembles in 
foliage and in mode of growth. It is more irregularly branched at the top, 
the leaves smaller, the clusters of flower-heads smaller and more numerous, 
each consisting of from 3 to 10 minute conical heads. Involucres cottony at 
the base, shining at the tips, and only one or two outer rows of filiform 
florets are amongst the scales of the receptacle. 
_In fields, and stony or sandy wastes, with a wider range than that of 
F. germamea, extending all across Russian Asia, and more common in 
the north, although not an Arctic plant. In Britain, it has been observed 
in various localities, but is perhaps frequently overlooked owing to its small 
size. Fl. the whole summer, 
3. EB. gallica, Huds. (fig. 505). Narrow Filago.—Very near F. minima, 
but much more branched, the leaves almost subulate and much longer, 
the clusters of flower-heads very numerous and small, the leaves which 
surround them longer than the involucres, whilst in the last two they 
are mostly shorter. Involucres very small and conical, containing but 
very few florets. Some of the outermost rows are embraced as_ it 
were each by one of the inner bracts of the involucre, with a row of recep- 
tacular scales between them and the next row, thus distinguishing this 
