BRITISH WILD FLOWERS. 
215 
GENUS XXXYI. 
THE NIPPLE-WORT. (Lapsana, Lin.) 
Lin. Syst. SYNGENESIA iEQUALIS. 
Generic Character. —Involucrum with external bracteola: ; scales linear-lanceolate. Receptacle naked. Fruit quickly deciduous, not 
enveloped in the scales of the involucrum. Pappus none. ( Lindley .) 
Description, &c. — There are only two British species in this genus, viz. the common Nipple-Wort 
( L. communis , Lin.), and the Swine’s Succory (L. pusilla, Willd.). Both are annual weeds, with yellow flowers, 
which are produced in June and July. 
GENUS XXXYII. 
THE DANDELION. (Leontodon, Lin.) 
Lin. Syst. SYNGENESIA ^EQUALIS. 
Generic Character. —Involucrum with short, external, spreading bracteola;; not ribbed when in fruit. Receptacle naked. Pappus 
stipitate, hairy.—Scapes always single-flowered. {Lindley.) 
Description, &c. —The common Dandelion {L. Taraxacum, Lin.) is a well-known British weed, remarkable 
for its curious leaves, the indentations of which are reversed, its beautiful yellow flowers, and its large heads of 
feathery seeds. There is another species, which closely resembles the common kind, but which is less abundant? 
being only found in marsh land. The name of Leontodon signifies literally a lion’s tooth ; in allusion to the 
tooth-like margin of the leaves. The English name of Dandelion is a corruption of Dent de Lion , which is 
evidently derived from the scientific name. 
GENUS XXXVIII. 
THE HAWK’S-BEARD. (Crepis, Lin.) 
Lin. Syst. SYNGENESIA iEQUALlS. 
Generic Character. —Involucrum lax, with external bracteola! ; when in fruit usually ribbed. Receptacle naked. Pappus hairy, 
sessile, or stipitate, snowy white. {Dec.) 
Description, &c_ The species in this genus are small annual weeds, with yellow flowers, one of which lias 
a very disagreeable smell, and is placed by some botanists in another genus, on account of its pappus being 
stipitate or stalked, like that of the Dandelion. The name of Crepis is said to be derived from a Greek word 
signifying a slipper, but why it is applied to this genus it does not appear. 
The Bristly Ox-Tongue (Helminthici echioides) and the Picris (Pieris hieracioides) are two common English 
weeds, with flowers very nearly resembling those of Crepis. The Ox-Tongue takes its English name from the 
leaves and stem being covered with scattered prickles growing out of white tubercles, like the roughness of an 
ox’s tongue, which are so sharp and so rigid as to render it very difficult to gather the plant. The botanic name 
of Helmintkia is derived from two Greek words, one signifying a worm, and the other a case ; in allusion to the 
shape of the seed-vessel. The Ox-Tongue was formerly included in the genus Picris, but they have been 
separated on account of some slight botanical differences. The Picris, though the whole plant is rough, is 
not so decidedly prickly as the Ox-Tongue. The name of Picris signifies bitter. 
