202 



WEEPS AND USEFUL PLANTS. 



Rool perennial, somewhat fusiform. Stem 2-4 feet high, angular-stnate, ronghish- 

 pubescent, with numerous and somewhat virgate scahrous bi'anchcs. Radical leaves 4-8 

 or 10 inches long, numerous. Heads axillary on the side of the stem and branches, in 

 pairs or often solitary. Fiords blue, or sometimes purphsh — and not unfrequently white — 

 all ligulate and radiating towards the circumference. Pajypus of minute chatfy scales, 

 oblong, obtQse or emarginate, in a double series. 



Fields and meadows : Northern and Middle States : introduced. Native of Europe. 

 Fl. August. Fr. September - October. 



Ohs. This foreigner is becoming extensively naturalized. Some Euro- 

 pean Agriculturists recommend it as a valuable forage plant, — though 

 they admit that it gives a bad taste to the milk of cows which feed upon 

 it. In this country, it is generally — and I belive justly regarded as an 

 objectionable weed, which ought to be expelled from our pastures. The 

 roasted root has been used on the continent of Europe, as a substitute 

 for the Coffee-berry ; but those who delight in the aromatic beverage, are 

 not likely to take much interest in this or any other substitute for the 

 ^genuine article. 



2. C. Enifi'via, Willd. var. sati'va, DC. Eadical leaves somewhat erect, 

 obovate-oblong, sinuate-dentate, and often pinnatifid, smoothish, — the 

 cauliue ones auriculately dilated at base ; heads sessile and aggregated 

 in twos and fours in the axils of the upper leaves, or solitary on elongat- 

 ed branches. 



Endive. Garden Succory. 



Fr. La Scarole. Germ. Die Endivie. Span. Endibia. 



Root biennial — or sometimes annual. Stem 2-3 feet high, terete, fistular, some wha\ 

 branched, smoothish, or often sparsely hirsute. Radical leaves 6-12 inches long, sinuate- 

 dentate with the teeth varying from large to very small and numerous, sometimes pin- 

 natifld with the margin curled and lacerate, slender and tapering to the base. Outer scales 

 of the involucre hispid-cihate. Florets violet-purple, or sometimes white, — the hgules at 

 first involute. Akenes turbinate or obconic, somewhat compressed, angular and ribbed ; 

 pappus of minute chaffy scales in a double series. 



Gardens : cultivated. Native of India. Fl. July -August. Fr. September. 



Ohs. Cultivated for the young radical leaves, — which are etiolated or 

 blanched by the exclusion of light, and used as a salad. 



29. LEON'TODOI^r, L. Fall Dandelion. 



[Greek, Icon, a lion, and odous, a tooth ; from the toothed leaves.] 



Heads many-flowered. Involucre scarcely imbricated, but with several 

 bractlets at the base, Achenia spindle-shaped, striate, all similar. Pap- 

 pus of plumose bristles, enlarged towards the base, persistent. Low, 

 stemless perennial herbs, with toothed or pinnatifid root-leaves, the 

 scapes bearing one or more yellow heads. 



1. L. autumna'le, L. Leaves more or less pinnatifid ; scape branched ; 

 peduncles thickened at the summit, and furnished with small scaly 

 bracts ; pappus, tawny, of a single row of equal bristles. June to 

 Nov. Kawkbit. Fall Dandelion. 



Ohs. This introduced plant is especially abundant in New Englau<.^ 



