UMBELLIFERJE. 



367 



3. Spreading Caucalis. Caucalis infesta, Curt. (Fig. 442.) 

 (Eng. Bot. 1314. Torilis, Brit. FL) 



Very near the upright C, but usually 

 a rather smaller and more spreading 

 plant ; the general involucre is either 

 entirely wanting or reduced to a single 

 bract, often lanceolate, and the bristles 

 of the fruit are usually less curved, but 

 with a minute hook at the top ; this 

 character is not however so constant as 

 that of the involucre. 



In cultivated and waste places, on 

 banks and roadsides, in central and 

 southern Europe to the Caucasus, not- 

 extending into Scandinavia. In Britain, 

 chiefly amongst corn, in the southern 

 and eastern counties of England. It is 

 said to be abundant in several local 

 Floras, but the upright C. is often mis- 

 taken for it. Fl. summer and autumn. 



Fig. 442. 



4. Small Caucalis. Caucalis daucoides, Linn. (Fig. 443.) 



(Eng. Bot. t. 197.) 



Erect or spreading, and much branched, 

 seldom above a foot high. Leaves twice 

 or three times pinnate, with rather nar- 

 row, but short, pinnatifid segments, the 

 general outline of the leaf being broadly 

 triangular. Umbels terminal or opposed 

 to the leaf, on rather long peduncles, 

 usually of 3 or 4 rays only. General 

 involucre of one bract, partial ones of 

 a few linear bracts. Flowers white or 

 pink, the outer petals occasionally larger. 

 Fruits nearly sessile, attaining, when 

 ripe, nearly half an inch, covered with 

 long, stout prickles. There are usually 

 in each partial umbel a few barren 

 flowers on longer pedicels. 



A cornfield weed of southern origin, 

 now widely spread over Europe and 

 Russian Asia. Apparently well esta- 



Fig. 443. 



blished in some of the southern counties of England. Fl. with the corn. 



