258 THE COMPOSITE FAMILY. [ Tragopodon. 
XXIX. TRAGOPOGON. SALSIFY. 
Biennials or perennials, with tap-roots, and long, narrow, grass-like, 
entire leaves, broader and sheathing at the base. Involucre of 8 to 12 
bracts, nearly equal, and slightly united at the base, produced into long ; 
green points. Achenes narrowed at the top into a long beak, bearing a 
pappus of feathery hairs. 
A genus not very numerous in species, spread over Europe and temperate 
Asia, easily known among the British Zigulate by the foliage. In this 
respect it resembles Scorzonera, a numerous exotic genus, of which one 
species, the S. Aispanica, is often cultivated in our gardens for the same 
purposes as the Salsify. 
lowenstyellow.-.)S.eeRiowy Oh lie Ra es (gg el sae emer 
lowers purple . . , . . 2. LT. porrifolius. 
1, T. pratensis, Linn, (fig. 576). Meadow Salsify, Yellow Goat’s- — 
beard.—Stem erect, slightly branched, 1 to 2 feet high, Radical and 
lower leaves 5 to 8 inches long or even more, shortly dilated at the base, 
glabrous and slightly glaucous; upper leaves shorter, with the dilated base 
longer in proportion. Peduncles long, thickened at the summit, each with 
a single head of yellow flowers. Involucral bracts narrow-lanceolate, 1 to 
14 inches long. Florets sometimes not half so long, but varying from that 
to the full length of the involucre. Achenes long 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. #l. early summer. [T. 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. 577). Purple Salsify, Salsify or Sal- 
safy.—It is difficult to assign any positive character to distinguish this from 
T’. 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 culti- 
vated for culinary purposes. In Britain, confined to southern England, 
where it appears to be well established in some localities. ZV. early 
summer. 
XXX. HELMINTHIA. HELMINTH. 
Hebit and pappus of Pieris, 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. 
1, H.echioides, Gzartn. (fig. 578). Oxtongue Helminth.—A coarse, 
erect annual or biennial, 1 to 2 or 3 feet high, rough with numerous short, 
stiff, almost prickly hairs, often hooked as in Péeris. 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 4 
