LACTU'CA SONCHIFO'LIA. 
SOWTHISTLE-LEAVED LETTUCE. 
Class. Order. 
SYNGENESIA. iEQUALIS. 
Natural Order. 
COMPOSITE. 
Native of 
Height. 
Flowers in 
Duration 
Introduced 
S. Europe. 
2 feet. 
July, Aug. 
Perennial. 
in 1822. 
No. 938. 
Lactuca, a name which was founded on the Latin 
word lac, milk; the application of which to the 
present genus there is no difficulty of determining. 
The prevalence of milky juices in the Lettuce family 
is known to every one. These juices are some- 
what diuretic and narcotic. 
For the Lactuca sonchifolia, and numerous other 
choice novelties, we owe an unrequitable debt of 
gratitude to Miss C. Balguy, of Hazle Brow, near 
Derby, who received it from Her Grace the Mar- 
chioness of Hastings. Although this flower glories 
not in an exceedingly gay colour, but in a tint par- 
taking rather of the softened hue which might be 
preferred by the modest taste of the society of friends, 
still it produces much beauty, we may say gaiety, 
from its habit of growth. Our plant at this moment 
displays nearly two hundred fully expanded flowers, 
without the intervention of a leaf, to lessen their 
effect; indeed, so careful does the plant appear 
to be that the beauty of a flower should not be in- 
truded on, that even its younger buds are not per- 
mitted to erect their heads, lest they become intru- 
sive amongst the full-dressed sisterhood. 
