BRITISH WILD FLOWERS. 
205 
* * Rays yellow. 
4.— THE YELLOW OX-EYE, OR CORN MARIGOLD, (Chrysanthemum segetum, Lin.) 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot., t. 540 ; 2nd ed., t. 1172. 
Specific Character. —-Leaves clasping the stem, glaucous ; jagged upwards; toothed at the base. {Smith.) 
Description, &c.— This very handsome plant is an annual, growing in corn-fields, particularly where the 
soil is sandy; and it produces its showy flowers from June till the end of August. In some places it is so 
abundant as to be considered a troublesome weed. 
GENUS XVII. 
THE WILD CHAMOMILE. (Matricaria, Lin.) 
Lin. Syst. SYNGENESIA SUPERFLUA. 
Generic Character. —Involucrum hemispherical, imbricated ; scales obtuse. Flowers radiant. Receptacle naked, conical. 
Pappus none. ( Lindley.) 
Description, &c. —The genus Matricaria formerly included many English plants, but it is now restricted to 
one. The name of the genus alludes to the supposed medicinal properties of the wild Chamomile (M. Chamomilla). 
It is an annual, and produces its flowers, which are remarkable for their conical disks, from May till July. 
GENUS XVIII. 
THE WORMWOOD. (Artemisia, Lin.) 
Lin. Syst. SYNGENESIA SUPERFLUA. 
Generic Character, —Involucrum ovate or round, imbricated. I slender, less numerous, entire, female. Receptacle naked or hairy. 
Florets all tubular; of the disk hermaphrodite, five-toothed ; of the ray | Pappus none. (Lindley.) 
Description, &c. —The common Wormwood (A. Absinthium) is a well-known half-shrubby plant, with a 
strong smell, and a very bitter taste. It is considered an admirable stomachic, and a liqueur composed of it is 
in great esteem on the Continent. The flowers are so intensely bitter that they are frequently used in the 
country to put in beer instead of hops. The leaves are put among linen to drive away moths. The Mugwort 
(A. vulgaris) is a perennial, very common in many parts of England, which produces its reddish-purple flowers 
in August. The down on the leaves of this plant is so abundant that it is collected, under the name of moxa, 
and used as tinder. There are some other British species in the genus, hut they do not possess any interest. The 
name of Artemisia is derived from Artetnis, the Diana of the Greeks. The common Southernwood belongs to 
this genus, but it is not a native of Britain. 
GENUS XIX. 
THE TANSY. (Tanacetum, Lin.) 
Lin. Syst. SYNGENESIA SUPERFLUA. 
Generic Character. — Involucrum hemispherical, imbricated. | female, three-lobed. Receptacle naked. Pappus membranous, entire. 
Florets all tubular ; of the disk hermaphrodite, five-lobed ; of the ray ! ( Lindley.) 
Description, &c. —There is only one British species in this genus. The name of Tanacetum is said to be 
derived from athanasia, signifying undying ; in allusion to the imperishable nature of the plant, which, even 
when gathered, does not quickly fade. 
