Gray’s Nat. Arr. v. ii. p. 452.— LindL Syn. p. 148.— Hook. Brit. FI. p. 365.— Mac* 
Man. Brit. Bot. p. 130. — Lightf. FI. Scot. v. i. p. 489. — Sibtli. Fl. Oxon. p. 257. — 
Abbot’s Fl. Bedf. p. 185. — Davies’ Welsh Bot. p. 80. — Furt. Midi. Fl. v. ii. p. 
403. — Relh. Fl. Cant. (3rded.) p. 349. — Ilook. Fl. Scot. p. 246. — Grev. Fl. Edin. 
p. 180. — Fl. Devon, pp. 140 & 160. — Johnst. Fl. of Berw. v. i. p. 187. — Winoh’s 
Ft. of Nortlinmb. and Durh. p. 55. — Walker’s Fl. of Oxf. p. 245. — Bab. Fl. Batin 
p. 26.— Dick. Fl. Abred. p. 52.— Mack. Catal. PI. of Irel. p. 74. ; Fl. Hib. p. 149. 
Localities. — In corn-fields, turnip-fields. See. ; frequent. 
Annual. — Flowers from June to October. 
Root tapering, rather small. Stem from 1 to 2 feet high, up^ 
right, alternately branched, leafy, round, or slightly angular, smooth, 
shining, of a glaucous green colour. Branches rather short. Leaves 
alternate, sessile, half embracing the stem, oblong, rather acute, 
variously toothed or cut, smooth, somewhat succulent, slightly veiny, 
glaucous on both sides. Flowers numerous, large, of a uniform 
brilliant yellow colour, one at the extremity of each branch, on a 
naked, hollow peduncle, swelling upwards. Scales of the involu- 
crum green, with a broad membranous border. Florets of the ray 
about 16 or 18, oblong, truncate, marked with two lines, and having 
generally three irregular teeth at the end. Seeds compressed, 
grooved, a little bent, smooth, without any crown or membranous 
border. 
This is a handsome plant, and occurs, more or less, in most parts 
of England, as well as in many other parts of Europe. It is often 
a very troublesome weed in corn-fields and turnip-fields, on a sandy 
soil ; and sometimes abounds to such a degree, as almost to anni- 
hilate the crop ; hence laws have been enacted, and fines imposed, 
in Denmark, Saxony, and some parts of Scotland, for the purpose 
of obliging the farmer to keep his land clear of it. It was imported 
into Sweden along with corn from Jutland, about the end of the 
sixteenth century. Linnasus says it may be destroyed by manuring 
the ground in Autumn, suffering it to lie fallow for one Summer, 
and harrowing the land five days after sowing the corn ; but it is 
most effectually eradicated by band before it comes to seed, and 
this method of extirpating it is attended with the satisfaction, that 
while it promotes the farmer’s interest, it gives employment to a 
great number of the industrious poor. Geoffroy reports, that 
this plant, gathered before it blossoms, and boiled in water, imparts 
an acrid taste, penetrating and subtile like pepper ; and that this 
decoction is an excellent vulnerary and diuretic. Horses, sheep, 
and goats eat the plant ; cows and swine refuse it. A large quan- 
tity, which grew on some arable land, was cut when in flower, 
dried, and eaten by horses as a substitute for hay. The young 
leaves may be eaten in salads. It is used by the Germans for dying 
yellow. — See Curt. Fl. Lond. ; and With. Bot. Arr. 
Linnaeus observes, that the flowers follow the sun in a very remarkable manner, 
and that they give a brilliancy to the fields in tillage, which is pleasing to the 
eye of the passing traveller. 
A variety of this species, with more jagged leaves and smaller flowers, was noticed 
in corn-fields near Glastonbury, by 1’llkenet ; but no other person seems to have 
met with it. See Ray’s Syn. and Smith's Engl. Fl. 
I have not heard of its ever having been found with a double flower, although 
Chrysanthemum coronariurn, an exotic species, very nearly allied to it, is com- 
inon in that state, in gardens, 
