composite. 439 



however, subdivided into a very large number of small genera upon 

 minute characters, the natural value of which is scarcely yet satisfac- 

 torily established. The most marked of them applicable to the British 

 species, and which may be considered at any rate as sections, are the 

 following : — 1. Antennaeia ; flower-heads dioecious, comprising the 

 dioecious C. and the pearl C. 2. Meeope ; hairs of the pappus com- 

 bined in a ring at the base ; the wood C. and the dwarf C. 3. Filago ; 

 receptacle bearing a row of scales between the outer and the next row 

 of florets ; the common C, narroiv C, and least C. Leaving in 4, 

 Gnaphalium, the somewhat dissimilar Jersey C. and marsh C. 



Most of the Composite Everlastings of our gardens belong to the 

 allied genus Ueliclirysum, of which no species are British. 



Inner bracts of the involucre pure-white at the tips. Flower- 

 heads almost dioecious, in terminal corymbs. 



Low plant, with 3 to 6 heads in the corymb 1. Mountain C. 



Tall plant, with a large corymb of numerous heads ... 2. Pearl C. 

 Inner bracts of the involucre brown or pale at the tips. 

 Flower-heads in clusters or rarely solitary, including both 

 kinds of florets. 

 Perennials. Flower-heads in leafy spikes, or terminal and 

 few. 

 Flower-heads in oblong or elongated leafy spikes. Outer 



filiform florets numerous. Achenes not flattened . . 4. Wood C. 

 Flower-heads solitary or very few, on a dwarf stem. 



Outer filiform florets few. Achenes flattened ... 5. Dwarf C. 

 Flower-heads densely clustered, terminal, almost corym- 

 bose. Outer filiform florets numerous. Achenes not 



flattened 3. Jersey C. 



Annuals. Flower-heads small, numerous, in lateral or ter- 

 minal clusters. 

 Clusters terminal, surrounded by leaves much longer than 

 the heads. 

 Florets very numerous, all within the involucre without 



intervening scales 6. Marsh C. 



Outer filiform florets separated by scales of the recep- 

 tacle, outermost of all embraced by the inner in- 



volucral bracts . .9. Narroiv C. 



Clusters terminal or lateral ; the surrounding leaves 



shorter or scarcely longer. 



Involucres very small, in very dense clusters, with a row 



of scales on the receptacle within the outer row of 



florets. 



Clusters few, globular, and terminal, with numerous 



heads 7. Common C. 



Clusters numerous, lateral and terminal, with less 

 than 10 heads. 



