COMPOSITE FAMILY. 



203 



where it infests grass plots, beginning to flower in June, and continuing 

 until the frost. The flowers much resemble those of the Dandelion. 

 Varies with the leaves, more or less hispid. 



30. TRAGOPO'GOX, Tournef. Salsify. 



[Greek, Tragos, a goat, and Pogon, a beard ; in allusion to the pappus.] 



Heads many-flowered. Involucre in a nearly single series ; scales 8 - 

 16, somewhat united at the base, finally reflexed. Akenes sessile, with a 

 lateral areola at base, scabrous, terminating in a long continuous Ijeak. 

 Papptis in several series, — all plumose except the 5 outer ones, which 

 are longer than the rest. Biennial or perennial herbs. Leaves sublinear, 

 with parallel nerves. 



1. T. porrifo'lium, L. Glabrous ; leaves lance-linear, acuminate, very 



entire ; penduncles somewhat obconical, fistular ; scales of the involucre 



about 8, lanceolate, acute, longer than the florets. 



Leek-leaved Tragofogox. Oyster-plant. Salsify. 



Ft. Salsifis. Germ. Der Bock-bart. Span. Barba cabruna. 



Plant glabrous and somewhat glaucous. Root biennial ? (^anuual DC), fleshy and fusi- 

 form. Stem. 3-4 or 5 feet high, sparingly and somewhat dicnotomouslj' branched. Leaves 

 6-12 or 15 inches long, ovately dilated at base, and tapering to a long narrow acumina- 

 tion, keeled, sessile and semi-amplexicaul. somewhat distichous. Heads terminal, on en- 

 larged clavate hollow peduncles. Florets violet-purple with a fuscous tinge. Akenes 

 lance-oblong, striate-sulcate, scabrous, tapering to a smooth slender beak, about an inch 

 in length, and supporting the pappus at summit. 



Gardens : cultivated. Native of Europe. Fl. June. Fr. JulJ^ 



Ohs. This is frequently cultivated for its fleshy root, — which, when 

 properly cooked, has something of the flavor of fried Oysters ; whence 

 one of its common names. 



31. TARAX'ACUM, Haller. Dandeliox. 



[Greek, IJircmo, to stir or disturb ; in allusion to its supposed active properties.] 



Heads many-flowered. Involucre double, — the outer scales small, 

 appressed, spreading or reflexed — the inner ones erect, in a single series. 

 Akenes oblong, striate-ribbed or angled, minutely muricate on the ribs, 

 often spinellose at summit, — the apex abruptly produced into a long 

 slender beak. Pappus in many series, capillary, very white. Perennial 

 stemless herbs : leaves, consequently, all radical. Heads of flowers mostly 

 solitary, on simple fistular naked scapes. 



1. T. Dens-leo'nis. Desf. Leaves lanoe-oblong, unequally and acutely 

 runcinate, — the lobes triangular, dentate anteriorly ; scales of the 

 involucre not corniculate at apex, the outer ones reflexed. 

 LiON-TOOTH Taraxacum. Dandelion. 



- Fr. Dent de Lion. Germ. Der Loewenzahn. Span. Amargon. 



Plant at first somewhat pubescent, at length smooth. Root perennial. Leave's 4-10 or 

 12 inches long. &aps.j several from the same root. 4-12 or 15 inches long (elongating), 



