202 



WEKDS AXD USEFUL PLAXTS. 



Root perennial, somewhat fusiform. Stem 2-4 feet high, angular-striate. roughish- 

 pubescent, with numerous and somewhat virgate scahrous br'anches. Eadic-al leaves 4-8 

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

 pairs or often solitary. i^Zo?-£ts blue, or sometimes purplish — and not uufrequently whii:* — 

 all ligulate and radiating towards the circumference. I'ajypus oi minme chaffy scales, 

 oblong, obtuse or emarginate. in a double series. 



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

 Fl. August. Fr. September - October. 



Obs. 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. ExDi'viA, Willd. var. sati'va. DC. Radical leaves somewhat erect, 

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

 cauline 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 fe-et high, terete, fistular, somewhat 

 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- 

 natilid 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 ligules 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. J^Z. July -August. JV. September. 



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

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



29. LEOX'TODOX, L. Fall Dandeliox. 



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



Heads many-flowered. Involucre scarcely imbricated, but "vrith 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 pinuatifid 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. Hawkbit. Fall Dandelion. 



Obs. This introduced plant is especially abundant in Xew England, 



