240 xlyi. composite : cynarocephal/E. [ Centaurea. 
(neuter), longer than those of the disk, and resembling a ray 
(sometimes wanting). — So named, because with a plant of this 
genus it is said the Centaur Chiron cured himself of a wound 
received in the foot from Hercules. 
* Involucral scales with a broad scariovs appendage at the apex. 
1. C. *Jacea L. ( brown-rayed K .) ; involucral appendages 
scariose torn the outer pinnatifid, leaves linear-lanceolate, the 
lower ones broader and toothed, heads rayed, pappus none. 
E. B. t. 1678. 
Hedges and waste places. Sussex. Belmont castle and Inver- 
carrity, Angusshire; Craignethan Castle, Lanarkshire. Belfast, 
Ireland. If.. 8, 9. — Lower leaves obovato-lanceolate, petioled, 
toothed ; upper ones entire, sessile. The appendages of the scales 
of the involucre are pale brown, shining, the outer ones deeply 
pinnatifid, the middle ones torn, the uppermost sometimes nearly 
entire, and having the scale itself so elongated as not to be co- 
vered by the lower ones. In these respects the usual form differs 
strikingly from C. nigra; but there are occasionally specimens ap- 
proaching it, and what is called C. transalpina is quite intermediate. 
Smith says that the achenes are “ crowned with a simple row of very 
short black bristles;” in our foreign specimens there is no vestige 
of a pappus. Only one specimen has been found in Sussex and 
another in Lanarkshire: the Angusshire plant is more probably the 
rayed state of C. nigra; the Irish one, if wild, is probably in the same 
predicament. 
2. C. nigrescens Godr. (black-rayed K.) ; involucral append- 
ages erect lanceolate or ovato-lanceolate pectinate, teeth subu- 
late short, pappus wanting, leaves lanceolate or ovato-lanceolate 
acute, lower ones sinuato-dentate or lvrato-sinuate or entire, 
upper sessile. 
Meadows and pastures in the west of England. It. 6 — 9. — 
Involucral appendages dark, of the outermost small, of succeeding 
rows gradually broader; the three innermost rows of scales usually 
protrude, and have roundish irregularly torn appendages. Heads 
usually rayed. — We do not know with certainty what plant is meant; 
so have drawn up our character from Mr. Babington’s description. 
3. C. nigra L. (black discoid K.) ; involucral appendages 
ovate quite covering the involucre closely and deeply fringed, 
teeth spreading capillary twice as long as the breadth of the 
appendage, lower leaves angulato-dentate sublyrate, upper 
ones lanceolate, pappus of short linear unequal deciduous 
scales. — a. heads discoid. E. B. t. 278. — heads rayed. C. 
nigrescens Willd. 
Meadows and pastures, frequent. — j8. not uncommon in the S. 
and W. of England and Wales; rare in Scotland. if. 6 — 9. — 
Stem 2 — 3 ft. high. Leaves scabrous. Scales of the involucre with 
black appendages and brown teeth ; one or more of the innermost 
