LII. COMPOSITE 
263 
upper alternate, ovate, 2| x 1J in., narrowed into a short stalk, 
acutely toothed. Heads radiate, in. diam., at the ends or in 
the forks of the branches. Involucral bracts few, leaf-like, outer 
spreading ; receptacle convex, covered with large, ribbed scales 
enfolding the lower half of the fertile disk-flowers ; flowers yellow ; 
pappus none ; ligules broad, spreading, notched ; corolla of the 
disk-flowers 3-5-toothed. Achenes curved, ribbed, enclosed in the 
hardened, pointed scales. 
Valleys below Simla, in cornfields ; July, August. — Throughout India, 
ascending to 5000 ft. - Tropical Africa. 
29. BLAINVILLEA. In honour of D. de Blainville, a French 
zoologist of the nineteenth century. — Nearly all tropical regions. 
Blainvillea latifolia, DC. ; FI. Br. Ind. iii. 305. A stiff, 
roughly pubescent, erect herb, 1-2 ft. Leaves lower opposite, 
upper alternate, ovate or triangular, 3 x 2^ in., toothed. Heads 
radiate, in. diam., terminal at the end of branches or axillary 
and nearly sessile. Involucral bracts few, outer ones broad, leaf- 
like, inner gradually passing into scales ; receptacle covered with 
rigid, concave scales each embracing a flower ; flowers yellow 
or white ; pappus of 2-5 unequal bristles united in a short 
ring ; ligules small, 2- or 3-toothed ; corolla of the disk-flowers 
5-lobed. Achenes 3-angled, inner ones often flattened, each en- 
closed in a scale. 
Below Sipi, usually in cornfields, not common ; August. — Throughout India, 
ascending to 5000 ft.— All tropical regions. 
30. SPILANTHES. From the Greek spilos, a spot or stain, 
and anthos, a flower ; referring to the dark-coloured pollen. — 
Most tropical regions, chiefly America. 
*Spilanthes Acmella, Linn . ; FI. Br. Ind. iii. 307. An annual 
herb, more or less pubescent, sometimes hairy ; stems 1-2 ft., 
usually decumbent near the base. Leaves opposite, .stalked, 
ovate-lanceolate, about 2 x 1 J in., toothed or entire. Heads 
discoid or radiate, conical, ^-| in. long, solitary on long stalks, 
Involucral bracts green, lanceolate, in 2 series ; receptacle 
narrowly conical, covered with concave scales each enclosing the 
lower part of a flower ; flowers white or yellow, mostly 2-sexual 
or the outer female and shortly rayed ; pappus none or 1 or 2 
bristles ; corolla bell-shaped, lobes 4, spreading. Achenes 
flattened, each enclosed in a scale. 
Throughout India, ascending to 5000 ft. ; May-Oetober. — All warm regions. 
31. BIDENS. The Latin for 2-toothed ; referring to the 
pappus. — Nearly all temperate and warm regions ; most abundant 
in America. 
