490 THE COMPOSITE FAMILY. 



XXXYI. CREPIS. CREPIS. 



Annuals or biennials, rarely forming a stock of longer duration, 

 usually glabrous or slightly hairy, with branched, more or less leafy 

 stems, and rather small heads of flowers in loose panicles, yellow in the 

 British species. Involucre of several, nearly equal, linear inner bracts, 

 with smaller outer ones. Receptacle without scales. Achenes not 

 compressed, angular or striated, more or less narrowed at the top or 

 beaked, with a pappus of copious simple hairs, usually very white. 



One of the largest genera of Ligidates in Europe and Asia, with a 

 very few American species, all nearly allied to Haiokiveed, but mostly 

 distinguished by habit as well as by the achenes contracted at the top 

 and the white pappus. There are some species, however, so nearly 

 intermediate between the two genera that they are referred to the one 

 or to the other according to peculiar views of individual botanists. 



Achenes narrowed into a distinct, slender beak {Barlchausid) . 

 All the achenes with a long, slender beak. Outer invoiu- 



cral bracts lanceolate, whitish at the the edges . . 1. Beaked C. 



Achenes of the outer florets scarcely beaked, the others 

 with a long beak. Outer involucral bracts small, and 



very narrow 2. Fetid C. 



Achenes contracted at the top, but without a distinct beak. 

 Lower leaves pinnatifid, or very narrow. Flower-heads 

 numerous. Pappus very white, and silky. 

 Outer bracts of the involucre narrow-linear .... 3. Smooth C. 

 Outer bracts of the involucre oblong-linear, with a 



whitish edge 4. 'Rough C. 



Leaves mostly oblong, coarsely toothed or entire. Flower- 

 heads few. Pappus not very white, and rather stiff. 

 Leaves mostly entire. Achenes with about 20 ribs or 



striae 5. Haivkweed C. 



Leaves mostly toothed. Achenes with 10 ribs or strias 6. Marsh C. 



The pink Hawkweed, formerly much cultivated in flower-gardens, is 

 a species of Crepis from south-eastern Europe ; the bristly Crepis (C. 

 setosa, Eng. Bot. Suppl. t. 2945), which has the long-beaked achenes of 

 the beaked C, but is covered with stiff, spreading hairs, is a south-east 

 European plant, which has occasionally appeared in Britain as a weed 

 of cultivation. 



1. Beaked Crepis. Crepis taraxacifolia, Thuil. (Eig. 588.) 



(Eng. Bot. Suppl. t. 2929. JBorckhausia, Brit. Fl.) 



Much resembles some forms of the rough C, but easily known by the 

 pappus. Leaves chiefly radical and pinnatifid, with a large, terminal, 



