LII. COMPOSITE 
263 
upper alternate, ovate, 2JxlJ in., narrowed into a short stalk, 
acutely toothed. Heads radiate, J-J 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, 3x2J 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 
enclosed 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 2xlJ in., toothed or entire. Heads 
discoid or radiate, conical, J-£ 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-October. — All warm regions. 
31. BIDENS. The Latin for 2 -toothed ; referring to the 
pappus. — Nearly all temperate and warm regions ; most abundant 
in America. 
