COMPOSITE. 140 
This plant is supposed by some botanists to be the origin of the cultivated 
Lettuce of the gardens. Its properties are much the same as those of L. virosa. The 
Qttden Lettuce was introduced into England about the middle of the sixteenth 
century ; it is not certainly known from what country, but De Candolle thinks from 
India. The variety first cultivated appears from its name to have come from an 
island of the Greek Archipelago ; it is still known as the Cos Lettuce, and is cultivated 
extensively for domestic use. Lettuces are generally raised from seed, and are planted 
out after they have attained a sufficient size, the leaves being tied up with bass to 
bleach the internal ones, by which means they are rendered more juicy and less bitter 
to the taste. The history of our familiar plants would be far from complete were 
we to exclude, as some of our critics suggest, the quaint and often curious notions 
entertained by the early botanists as to their uses and properties. We maintain 
that it is interesting, if not instructive, to know that two hundred and fifty years ago 
it was thought by old Gerarde, a much-esteemed and learned " Master in Chirurgirie," 
that " Lettuce maketh a pleasant sallad, being eaten raw with vineger, oile, and a 
little salt ; but if it be boiled, it is sooner digested and nourisheth more." He goes on 
to say that " it is served in these daies, and in these countries in the beginning of 
supper, and eaten first before any other meat, which also Martiall testifieth to be done 
in his time, marvelling why some did use it for a service at the end of supper, in these 
verses — being translated : — 
' Tell me why Lettuce, which our grandsires last did eate, 
Is now of late become to be the first of meate.' 
Notwithstanding it may now and then be eaten at both those times, to the health of 
the body ; for being taken before meat, it doth many times stir up appetite ; and 
eaten after supper it keepeth away drunken nesse, which commeth by the wine ; and 
that is by reason that it staieth the vapours from rising up into the head. Pliny 
tells us that ' Lettuce on being outwardly applied mitigateth all inflammations ; it is 
good for burnings and scaldings, if it be laid thereon with salt before the blisters do 
appeare.'" 
SPECIES III.— LACTUC A SALIGNA. Linn. 
Plate DCCCVII. 
Billet, Fl. Gall, et Germ. Exsicc. No. 1700. 
Reich. Ic. Fl. Germ, et Helv. Vol. XIX. Tab. MCCCCXX. Fig. 1. 
Stem glabrous, rarely with a few scabrous points in the lower 
portion. Radical leaves oblong- or elliptical-strapshaped, entire, 
CW sinuate- pinnatifid ; stem-leaves erect, strapshaped - elliptical, 
entire, or rarely ascending and runcinate-pinnatifid, acute ; all 
sept the lowest) hastate - amplexicaul with acute divaricate 
auricles (not decurrent), smooth on the margins and midrib, or 
in the pinnatifid forms sometimes with a few prickles on the 
under side of the midrib. Panicle sub-spicate, with the branches 
very short, erect. Achenes greyish-olive, elliptical-ovoid, narrowly 
bordered, glabrous at the summit ; beak white, as long as the 
achene. 
