COMPOSITE. 33 
Section II.— CYANUS. JDesv. 
Phyllaries adpressed, with terminal appendages pectinate or 
dentate-ciliate, not spinous, decurrent along the edges of the 
phyllary, but not reaching its base. 
SPECIES III .— C ENTAUREA SCABIOSA. Linn. 
Tlate DCCVIII. 
Reich. Ic. Fl. Germ, et Helv. Vol. XV. Tab. DCCLXXIV. 
Billot, Fl. Gall, et Germ. Exsicc. No. 2699. 
Hoodstock woody. Lower leaves oblanceolate, stalked, gene- 
rally pinnatipartite, with the segments pinnatifid, more rarely 
entire or simply dentate; stem-leaves not decurrent, generally 
pinnatifid or pinnatipartite, frequently sub-lyrate. Anthodcs 
generally radiant, on naked peduncles. Perieline sub-globular, 
generally glabrous; phyllaries with triangular pectinated dark- 
coloured appendages. Florets purplish-crimson, the radiant ones 
with the limb divided nearly to the base into linear-strapshaped 
segments. Pappus about as long as the achene. 
In pastures, borders of fields, and waste places. Not un- 
common in England, where it is very abundant on the chalk ; 
rare in Scotland, and principally confined to the East coast, where 
it occurs in Haddington, Perth, Aberdeen, and Moray. 
England, Scotland, Ireland. Perennial. Autumn. 
Rootstock thick and woody in old plants. Stem 1 to 3 feet 
high, generally slightly branched. Leaves firm, very variable in 
the degree of division, but generally so deeply pinnatifid as to be 
almost pinnate, with the segments again pinnatifid. Perieline J to 
1J inch across, generally with the appendages not concealing the 
green part of the phyllaries, but appearing as black horseshoe marks 
on the perieline. Achenes iron-grey, pubescent, with short stiff 
white pappus. Plant dull-green, sparingly pubescent. 
Greater Knapweed. 
French, Centauree Smbieuse. German, Scabiosenartige Flockeabhime. 
This large species of Knapweed was in olden times called Matte felon, and its name 
is supposed to have been given it because its rough knobs were suited "to scourge 
felons withal." As early as 1440 it was called Maude felone, or Bollsede. " Tins herbe," 
says the writer, "hathaflowre of purplish colour, and leaves y' like to ^cabyose." 
But Miss Prato suggests that in those old times whitlows were also called felons ; and 
VOL. V. F 
