162 



On the Composite. 



It may here be noted that on the same day I gathered on the 

 Abury circles the rare Carduus taberosus, L., which I have had in 

 cultivation ever since, Orobanche minor, Satt., Aspcrula Cynanchica,L. 

 Campanula glomerata, L., and Bromus arvensis, L. This grass has 

 within the last few years become common to Wilts and Gloucester- 

 shire, doubtless introduced with Foreign Rye Grass and Saintfoin 

 6eeds. J. B. 



In August, 1863, Miss Cunnington found the following on the 

 hill: — Polygala vulgaris, L., Phyteuma orbiculare, L., Lathyrus 

 pratensis, L., and Leontodon taraxacum, Sm. 



©it i\t Compete. 



By Thomas Bruges Flower, M.R.C.S., F.L.S., &c, &c. 

 ERHAPS there are few orders of plants more reluctantly 

 approached by the majority of students, than the Com- 

 positae. As this in a great measure arises from their apparently 

 anomalous mode of formation, a few observations tending to elucidate 

 their structure previous to commencing this interesting group in 

 the " Flora of the County" may not be in-appropriate. 



The Compositse of which the Dandelion, {Leontodon Taraxicum, 

 Sunflower, (Helianthus annuus) and Thistle, (Carduus), may be 

 considered the types, are so called from the circumstance of each 

 apparent flower being composed of numerous small florets, enclosed 

 within one common involucrum of variously shaped scale-like 

 leaves. The florets are sometimes uniform in their structure as in 

 the Dandelion, in which they appear in the form of narrow strap- 

 shaped blossoms, whilst in other instances the florets of the circum- 

 ference only are so formed, those of the disk or centre being of 

 another colour and tubular in shape, as in the Daisy, Ox-eye, &c. 

 Some of those florets contain both stamens and pistils, others only 

 one of those organs, whilst a third set contains neither, and it is 

 upon the varied circumstances of their presence or absence that the 

 orders of the Linnsean Class Syngenesia (suer together, and genesis 

 production, because the anthers are all united), to which they 

 belong are founded. As a full description of these orders is 



