Root tong, spindle-shaped, mostly branched, running deep into 
the ground. Stem from 2 to 3 feet high, branched, upright, round, 
rough with hairs, spotted with dark purple towards the bottom. 
Leaves for the most part hairy ; the radical ones spear-shaped, ser- 
rated, stalked ; the rest pinnatifid, the upper ones most deeply so, and 
quite sessile. Heads of Flowers large and handsome, of a fine pale 
purple, on simple peduncles ; florets of the disk palest, or reddish, 
nearly equal (see fig. 5.) ; those of the circumference much the 
largest (see fig. 2.), cleft into 4 unequal segments, with abortive 
anthers. Germen 4-cornered, hairy. Style longer than the florets. 
Seed (see fig. 8.) quandrangular, crowned by the cup-shaped bristly 
calyx. Receptacle bearded with hairs, shorter than the germens. 
The flowers are said to change to a most beautiful green, if held for a few 
minutes over the smoke of tobacco. 
The plant varies much in the divisions of its leaves, and in its hairiness ; and 
it sometimes occurs with white flowers. 
The variety mentioned by Haller, with leaves entire and smooth, is reported 
to have been found in the Isle of Wight, on the 5th of August, 1835: see Mag. 
of Nat. Hist. v. i. p. 83. 
Knautia arvensis may rather be considered a troublesome weed in corn-fields; 
but in grass-fields it may be considered rather useful, as it produces a large 
quantity of foliage, which is not refused by kine, sheep, or horses. 
Dr. Rutty, in his Materia Medica, remarks, that the leaves have sometimes 
been described as inodorous and insipid ; but, on a more accurate examination, 
they are found to be bitterish, with some degree of aciimony and astringency. 
Medicinally, this species has been recommended internally in coughs, asthmas, 
malignant fevers, ixc. taken in the way of infusion, or made into syrup. The 
juice, externally applied, is said to be good against foulness of the skin ; but 
the present practice has little dependance on it ; and Dr. Martyn says, woe be 
to hint who trusts on such broken reeds. 
The Natural Order Dipsa'cEjE (plants agreeing with the genus 
D'lpsacus in several important characters) consists of dicotyledon- 
ous, herbaceous plants or under-shrubs , with opposite, rarely verti- 
cil late, leaves, which are very variable in form, even so in the same 
individual, the radical and cauline ones being very different. The 
flowers are collected into dense heads, surrounded by a many- 
leaved involucrum (fig. 1.). Each individual flower has a superior, 
membranous calyx, resembling pappus (see figs. 2, 3, 7, & 8.), 
surrounded by a scarious involucellum ( outer calyx of Linn J (see 
fig. 7.). The Corolla (see figs. 2, 3, 5, & 6.) is monopetalous, tu- 
bular, inserted on the calyx, rarely ringent, but usually cut into 
4 or 5 unequal segments, which are imbricated in the bud. The 
stamens (see figs. 2, 3, & 6.) are inserted in the tube of the corolla, 
and are of the same number as its segments, and alternate with 
them, nearly always distinct and free ; the Anthers are 2-celled ; the 
Ovarium is inferior, 1-celled, with a single pendulous ovulum ; and 
the Style (fig. 4.) is thread-shaped, with a simple Stigma. The 
Fruit (fig. 8.) is dry, indehiscent, 1-celled, and crowned by the 
pappus-like calyx. The seed is pendulous in the fruit ; the Albu- 
men fleshy ; and the Embryo straight, with a superior radical. 
The plants contained in this order have almost the habit of Composites (see 
folio 27, a.) ; all have the flowers growing in heads. Many of the exotic species 
are elegant border-flowers, and ate cultivated with great facility. The only 
British Genera in this older arc, Dipsacus, Scabiosa, and Knautia. See 
Li.njjley’s Syn., and Don’s Gen. Syst. of Gard. and Hot. 
