The flowers, which are borne in “capitula” (Figs. 605, 610), are
_epigynous_ (Fig. 605 _C_, _D_), _5-merous_ in the calyx, corolla and
andrœcium, the corolla is _valvate_ in æstivation, with =2= carpels
(S5, P5, A5, G2). The anthers are united into a tube (syngenesious)
(except _Ambrosieæ_) which surrounds the bifid style. There is never
more than =1= _loculus_ in the ovary, with =1= _erect_, anatropous
ovule. The fruit is a 1–seeded nut (cypsela), with thin pericarp, the
calyx generally persists as a tuft of hairs (_pappus_) (Fig. 606)
on the summit of the fruit. Embryo _without endosperm_; the radicle
_directed downwards_.
Only 1 Order: Compositæ.
With respect to the inflorescence and the development of the individual
flowers, there is a very close resemblance to the Dipsacaceæ, which
stand on the same plane of progression as the Compositæ. But while
the latter are allied to Campanulinæ as the last stage in the
process of evolution, the Dipsacaceæ form the final stage of the
Rubiales-Dipsacales.
Order =Compositæ=. (For the principal characteristics compare those
of the family.) The Compositæ are chiefly herbs, but trees and shrubs
also occur in tropical countries. The leaves may be scattered or
opposite, but have no stipules. The outer leaves of the _involucre_
as a rule are barren, especially when numerous and imbricate, while
the innermost ones support the ray-flowers of the capitulum; in a
few instances all are fertile (_e.g._ _Tragopogon_, _Tagetes_). The
CAPITULA are many-flowered, with the exception, _e.g._ of _Echinops_,
which has 1-flowered capitula (see page 570). The capitula are again
arranged in inflorescences, most frequently corymbose with centrifugal
order of development. The _form of the receptacle_ is an important
character for the division of the genera (flat, convex, conical), and
also the _presence of scales_; these may be one scale (bract) for
each flower (Fig. 610 _br_), or a large number of bristles, which
do not each correspond to a leaf, or the receptacle may be entirely
without covering (_naked_). The flowers open in acropetal order in each
capitulum. All the flowers in a capitulum may be of the same _sex_, and
their form and colour are in that case the same, or the sexes may be
different, in which case the form and colour are also most frequently
different: the ray-flowers have projecting labiate or ligulate
corollas, while the disc-flowers have tubular corollas. As a rule in
the latter case the ♀ flowers are at the circumference, and the ☿ in
the centre, less frequently ♀-flowers at the edge and ♂-flowers in the
centre. The ray-flowers in some genera are neuter (_e.g._ _Centaurea_).
Some are diœcious.
[Illustration: FIG. 605.--_Calendula arvensis_: _A_ capitulum;
_B_ capitulum in longitudinal section; _C_ ♀-flower; _D_
☿-flower; _E_ the stamens; _F_ capitulum with ripe fruits; _G_
ripe fruit.]
There is no trace of an epicalyx (in contrast to the Dipsacaceæ, which
they generally so resemble). The formation of the CALYX is very varied.
The calyx always consists of a very small cushion-like structure,
most frequently developed later than the corolla; the 5 corners,
which correspond to the 5 sepals, in a few instances are raised as 5
large, flat, membranous bodies, _e.g._ in species of _Xeranthemum_,
_Catananche_, _Sphenogyne_, etc.; in other instances each of these
bears a shorter or longer bristle on its apex, followed by others in
rather uncertain numbers and with but slight indications of order, on
the edge and on the outer side of the calyx between the 5 points; in
other instances, again, the calyx is covered with bristles and hairs
without any indication of order or definite number (Fig. 606 _a_, _b_);
finally instances occur in which the edge is raised as a membranous
collar, irregularly toothed and notched, or divided into small
scales. There are naturally differences in the means of distribution
corresponding to the differences in structure of the calyx. The fruits
_a_ and _b_ represented in Fig. 606 are distributed by the wind, those
like _c_, on the other hand, by attaching themselves to animals and
human beings. The rays of the pappus are termed _rough_ when special
cells project a little beyond the surface, but if these grow out, and
are hair-like, the pappus is said to be _feathery_. In some genera the
pappus is raised on a long stalk, which is developed from the upper
part of the fruit, and termed a _beak_ (Fig. 606 _a_). The pappus does
not attain its full development till the ripening of the fruit, _i.e._
until it is about to be of use.
[Illustration: FIG. 606.--_a_ Fruit of _Taraxacum_; _b_ of
_Senecio_; _c_ of _Bidens_.]
The COROLLA has various forms: (_a_) _tubular_ (Fig. 605 _D_), with
a shorter or longer tube, not always of the same bore throughout and
especially slightly widened at the top to form a bell-shaped opening,
with 5 _regular_ teeth: (_b_) _labiate_ after 2/3, _i.e._ with 2 petals
in the upper and 3 in the under lip: (_c_) _ligulate_, _i.e._ the
corolla is split for a considerable distance on the posterior side (as
in the Labiate genus _Teucrium_) and prolonged into a long, strap-like
portion (Fig. 609 _A_), which projects upwards. A distinction must,
however, be drawn between the true and false ligulate corolla. In the
first case the corolla has 5 teeth at the apex (Fig. 609 _A_) and
is made up of all the petals of the corolla united together; this is
the usual condition in the _Ligulate-flowered_. In the latter case
(Fig. 605 _C_) the tongue has only 3 teeth (or is more irregularly
2–3-dentate), and is only formed of 3 petals; the corolla is then truly
bilabiate, the tongue is the large under lip, and the upper lip is very
slightly developed, or even at an early stage quite suppressed. This
false “ligulate” corolla is found among the _ray-flowers_; sometimes
the upper lip is seen quite plainly, _e.g._ in _Tagetes_, especially in
the double capitula. ~The VENATION of the corolla is peculiar; there
are always commisural veins which branch dichotomously at the angles
between the teeth of the corolla, and send a branch into the edge of
the two nearest teeth. The midrib is frequently absent, but may be
present, and then it has sometimes no connection with the other veins
of the corolla.~
[Illustration: FIG. 607.--_Centaurea cyanus_: _A_ the anther-tube
(_st_) with the crescentic curved filament before irritation;
_g_ the style; _k_ the base of the corolla; _B_ the same after
irritation, the anthers are drawn further down.]
The STAMENS are attached to the corolla, and have free filaments
(_Silybum_ has united filaments), but the anthers, which at first are
free, adhere together and form a tube (Fig. 605 _E_: only _Ambrosieæ_
have free anthers). The _connective_ is generally prolonged, and
protrudes above the anthers as a thin, brown membrane of various forms
(Fig. 605 _E_); appendages of various forms may also be found at the
base of the anthers. The anthers open introrsely, and the pollen must
be carried out at the top of the tube by upward growth of the style,
and by means of the “stylar-brush” (Figs. 607, 608, 609); the filaments
are sometimes sensitive (_e.g._ in the Corn-flower, Fig. 607), and
shorten on being touched, so that the anther-tube is pulled downwards,
and the pollen swept out at the top (Figs. 607, 608 _A_, _B_).
[Illustration: FIG. 608.--_Cirsium arvense_: _A_ the upper
portion of a flower, the pollen (_e_) is being ejected; _B_ part
of the upper portion of the style with stylar-brush (_b_, _c_)
and the stigmatic papillæ (_d_).]
[Illustration: FIG. 609.--_Leontodon autumnale_: _A_ ligulate
flower; _B_ extremity of the style with stylar-brush (_a_),
stigma (_b_) and pollen-grains (_c_). _C_ _Centaurea cyanus_.]
[Illustration: FIG. 610.--_Achillea millefolium._]
The STYLE divides at the apex into two branches (Figs. 609, 610),
both of which generally bear on the inner surface two lines of
stigmatic papillæ (Fig. 610 _B_, _C_) and being in shape, etc.,
very varied, are therefore employed as systematic characters.--~The
most important types are: =A.= The style is uniformly cylindrical;
its branches are semi-cylindrical, long, and with long hairs, and
finally bend backwards; the stylar branches bear slightly projecting
stigmatic papillæ on the inner side. This form is characteristic
of the _Cichorieæ_ (Fig. 609 _A_ _B_). =B.= The style is uniformly
cylindrical; the branches are long, cylindrical or club-like, short,
not rolled back, with fine hairs externally; the stigmatic lines do
not reach beyond the centre, and do not meet together. Characteristic
of _Eupatorium_, _Petasites_, _Tussilago_. =C.= The style is thickened
beneath the stigmatic branches in the form of a knob, or very hairy
(Fig. 609 _C_); the stigmatic lines reach as far as the apex of the
branches and then converge; sometimes the stigmatic branches are
united as far as the apex. Characteristic of the _Cynareæ_. =D.= The
stylar branches are lanceolate, or linear, pointed; externally flat
and thickly covered with hairs in the upper portion; the stigmatic
lines cease where the hairs commence externally. Characteristic of
_Aster_, _Bellis_, _Inula_, _Dahlia_, etc. =E.= The stylar branches are
linear, with long, brush-like hairs at the apex, where they are either
abruptly cut off or prolonged into a very hairy, conical appendage;
the stigmatic lines are broad, _reach as far_ as the brush-like hairs,
and do not meet together (Fig. 610). Characteristic of _Senecio_,
_Helianthus_, _Xanthium_, _Gnaphalium_, _Artemisia_, _Anthemis_, and
others related to these.~
A _ring-like nectary_ is found round the base of the style.
The thin-walled _cypsela_ (Fig. 606), with seeds fitting closely
to the pericarp, has many different forms (smooth, ribbed, spined,
etc.); its point of attachment generally lies at the lowest end but
sometimes it is drawn obliquely up the side (_Centaurea_, etc.).
The calyx, persistent on the apex of the fruit, has been described
above. Some genera have two or three different forms of fruits in
each capitulum.--The embryo is straight, with the radicle _turned
downwards_, and _without endosperm_, but is rich in oil.
The variously flowered capitula, whose normal tubular disc-flowers have
been changed to ligulate flowers, may be termed “double flowers.”
The relationship of the Compositæ to the Campanulinæ has been
described above (page 561). The alliance with the Dipsacaceæ
is more apparent than real. Similar capitate inflorescences
also occur as the final stage in other lines of descent, as in
_Eryngium_ among the _Umbelliferæ_.
=1. Cynareæ, Thistle Group.= Flowers all ☿, regular, with _tubular_
corollas. The receptacle is covered with numerous _bristles_, which
surround the flowers without any definite order, or the edges of the
grooves in which these are placed have a well-marked fringe. The
involucral leaves are numerous, imbricate, and are either prolonged
into a _thorn_ or terminate with a _membranous edge_. The style has
been described on page 568 (Fig. 609 _C_). Nearly all have a hairy or
feathery pappus. The filaments are sensitive.
_Carduus_ (Thistle); capitula ovoid; involucral leaves compact,
imbricate, with thorny points; the pappus-rays are _hair-like_
and united at the base by a ring (_i.e._ the calyx), and fall off
together.--_Cirsium_ (Fig. 608) has a _feathery_ pappus, in other
respects it is like _Carduus_. ~_C. arvense_ reproduces and passes
the winter by means of suckers.~--_Cynara_ (Artichoke) has a feathery
pappus and large, _solitary_ capitulum, with broad involucral leaves;
these have a fleshy base like the receptacle (edible).--~_Silylum_
has united filaments. _S. marianum_ (Milk-thistle), has leaves with
numerous _white spots_. _Onopordon_ (Cotton-thistle). _Cnicus_ (_C.
benedictus_) has a large, many-spined thorn on the involucral leaves;
pappus trimorphic.~--_Lappa_ (Burdock) is easily recognized by the
_hooked involucral leaves_, which assist in the distribution of the
fruit; in this respect it differs from the other inflorescences,
and also in the fact that the pappus is short, and quickly falls
off, without serving as a means of distribution.--~_Carlina_; the
external involucral leaves are _leafy_, _thorny_, with branched
or unbranched spines standing straight out or bent backwards; the
_internal ones are dry_, and prolonged as _dry_, _coloured_, radiating
_scales_. The well-developed bristles on the receptacle and edge of
the calyx are _deeply cleft and lobed_.~--_Centaurea_ (Knap-weed,
Fig. 607). The ray-flowers are neuter, and generally larger than the
disc-flowers; the involucral leaves are regularly imbricate, but are
frequently provided at the apex with a dry, chaffy, often lobed,
fringed appendage. The attachment of the fruit is lateral. _Serratula_
(Saw-wort).--~_Carthamus_, the outer and inner involucral leaves
differ very much.~--_Echinops_ (Globe-thistle) is characterised by
having “compound capitula,” _i.e._ there is only one flower in each
capitulum, but many such capitula are collected into a spherical head,
which at the base may also have a few involucral leaves. The individual
capitula have narrow, linear involucral leaves. ~(There are altogether
about 150 species of Compositæ with 1-flowered capitula, all from warm
countries.)~--_Xeranthemum_, _Staehelina_, _Jurinea_, _Saussurea_, etc.
=2. Mutisieæ, Labiate-flowered Group.= Tropical (S. American)
forms whose zygomorphic flowers have a bilabiate corolla (2/3).
The involucre is nearly the same as in the Thistles.
=3. Cichorieæ, Chicory Group= (or LIGULIFLORÆ). The flowers are all
☿ and have a _ligulate, 5-dentate_ corolla. The stylar branches are
thin and prolonged (Fig. 609 _B_). _Laticiferous vessels_ occur
in the majority (in this feature they resemble the Lobeliaceæ and
Campanulaceæ).
=A.= The pappus is _wanting_, or it is _scale-like_, but not long and
hairy.--_Cichorium_ (Chicory); capitula with _blue flowers_, borne
singly or a few together in the leaf-axil; there are two whorls of
involucral leaves, an outer one of short and radiating, an inner of
more numerous, longer and erect leaves; pappus, scale-like.--_Lapsana_
(Nipplewort). The few involucral leaves are nearly of the same size,
and persist forming a sort of capsule round the fruits, which are
entirely without a pappus. There are only a few flowers in the small
capitula.--_Arnoseris_ (Swine’s-succory), _Catananche_, etc.
=B.= The pappus is long and _hairy_ (not branched), generally fine
and snowy-white. There are _no scales_ on the receptacle. The two
genera first considered have _beaked_ fruits.--_Taraxacum_ (Dandelion)
(Fig. 606 _a_); the capitula are many-flowered, and borne singly
on the top of a leafless, hollow stalk.--_Lactuca_ (Lettuce) has
many small, few-flowered capitula borne in panicles.--_Crepis_
(Hawksbeard).--_Hieracium_ (Hawk-weed) has many imbricate involucral
leaves, and a stiff, brittle, brownish pappus.--_Sonchus_
(Sow-thistle); the capitula, when a little old, have a broad base, and
are abstricted above in the form of a jug; involucral leaves imbricate;
the fruit is compressed, without a beak, ridged. The soft, white pappus
falls off collectively.
=C.= The pappus is _feathery_ and branched; no scales on the
receptacle.--_Tragopogon_ (Goat’s-beard) generally has 8 involucral
leaves in one whorl. The fruit has a long beak; the rays of the pappus
are interwoven in the form of an umbrella.--_Scorzonera_ has fruits
like the preceding, but almost without any beak; involucral leaves
many, imbricate.--_Leontodon_ (Hawkbit) has a slightly feathery pappus,
rays not interwoven; beak absent.--_Picris._
=D.= Long, chaff-like, deciduous scales on the receptacle; pappus
_feathery_.--_Hypochœris_ (Cat’s-ear).
=4. Eupatorieæ, Hemp-agrimony Group.= All the flowers are most
frequently ☿; corollas tubular and regular; the involucral leaves are
not stiff and spiny; the receptacle is not covered with stiff bristles.
The stylar branches are long, club-like, or gradually tapering. There
is no swelling below the stigma.
_Eupatorium_ (Hemp-agrimony); all the flowers are ☿.--_Petasites_
(Butterbur); ray-flowers ♀, disc-flowers ☿ or ♂; sometimes diœcious.
Capitula in racemes or panicles. The leaves develop after the
flowering.--_Tussilago_ (_T. farfara_, Colt’s-foot) has a solitary
capitulum borne on a scaly, scape-like stem; the ray-flowers are ♀
with _ligulate_ corollas, disc-flowers ♂. The leaves unfold after the
flowering. _Ageratum_, _Mikania_, _Vernonia_.
=5. Astereæ, Aster Group= (or RADIATÆ, Ray-flowered). The flowers are
of two forms and different sexes; the ray-flowers are ♀ (sometimes
neuter), most frequently with irregular, _falsely ligulate_, radiating
corollas; the disc-flowers are ☿, regular, with tubular corollas (Fig.
610). Sometimes only tubular flowers are present, as _e.g._ in _Senecio
vulgaris_ (Groundsel), and the exterior of the capitulum is then as in
the Eupatorieæ. The stylar branches are straight, more or less flat and
short (Fig. 610).
=A.= ANTHEMIDEÆ. Involucral leaves imbricate, generally membranous at
the edge; _pappus wanting_, or at most a _membranous margin_ to the
calyx, but without hairs.
[+]. _Chaff-like bracts_ on the receptacle are found in _Anthemis_
(Chamomile), _Anacyclus_ (_A. officinarum_), _Achillea_ (Milfoil, Fig.
610), _Santolina_, etc.
[++]. A _naked_ receptacle is found in the following: _Bellis_
(Daisy) has solitary capitula on leafless stalks with white
ray-flowers.--_Matricaria_ (Wild Chamomile) has a conical receptacle.
~(_M. chamomilla_ has a very high, hollow receptacle; _M.
inodora_ has large, odourless capitula, and the receptacle is not
hollow.)~--_Chrysanthemum_ (Ox-eye) most frequently large, solitary
capitula; flat receptacle.--_Pyrethrum_; pappus scanty.--With these are
classed _Tanacetum_ (Tansy) and _Artemisia_ (Wormwood) with tubular
corollas only.
=B.= HELIANTHEÆ. Most frequently a bract to each flower is found on
the receptacle. The pappus is never exactly hairy, but consists of
scales, spines, etc., and the fruits are most frequently compressed
(Fig. 606 _c_).--_Helianthus_ (Sun-flower); _H. tuberosus_ (Jerusalem
Artichoke) has tuberous underground stems. _Dahlia_ has tuberous roots
(Am.). _Bidens_ (Bur-marigold, Fig. 606 _c_); the fruits are compressed
with 2 (or more) spines provided with reflexed barbs.--_Calliopsis_;
_Rudbeckia_; _Zinnia_; _Tagetes_ has united involucral leaves,
and yellow, transparent oil-glands. _Spilanthes_, _Galinsoga_,
_Melampodium_, _Silphium_ (Compass-plant), _Helenium_, _Gaillardia_.
=C.= CALENDULEÆ have 1–2 rows of involucral leaves, a naked receptacle,
and large, crescent-shaped, irregularly warted fruits, of different
forms in the same capitulum; pappus absent (Fig. 605).--_Calendula_
(Marigold); ray-flowers ♀, disc-flowers ♂.
=D.= SENECIONEÆ, have a fine, _hairy_, white pappus; no bracts,
otherwise as in Anthemideæ. The involucral leaves are most frequently
in 1–2 rows.--_Senecio_ (Groundsel) has two whorls of involucral
leaves, which most frequently have black tips, the external being much
shorter than the internal ones (_S. vulgaris_ has all flowers ☿ and
alike).--_Cacalia_, _Doronicum_, _Cineraria_, _Ligularia_, _Arnica_
(_A. montana_; large, long-stalked capitula; leaves opposite, forming a
kind of rosette).
=E.= ASTEREÆ have a bristle-like, unbranched pappus, often
of a dingy brown; receptacle naked; involucral leaves
numerous, imbricate.--_Solidago_ (Golden-rod); capitula small,
yellow-flowered, borne in panicles. _Aster_; disc-flowers most
frequently yellow, ray-flowers violet; _Callistephus_; _Erigeron_
(Flea-bane)--_Inula_.--All the corollas are tubular in: _Gnaphalium_
(Cud-weed); involucral leaves dry, rattling, often coloured; the
foliage-leaves and stem often white with woolly hairs; ray-flowers
♀, with narrow, tubular corolla; disc-flowers ☿ (few). _Antennaria_
(Cat’s-foot; diœcious), _Filago_, _Helichrysum_, _Ammobium_,
_Rhodanthe_ and others. _Leontopodium_ (_L. alpinum_, “Edelweiss”).
=F.= AMBROSIEÆ, a very reduced type of Compositæ, differing from
the others in having _free anthers_; the capitula are generally
unisexual, monœcious, the ♂ borne in a terminal inflorescence,
the ♀ in the leaf-axils. In other respects they are most closely
related to _Heliantheæ_.--_Xanthium._ In the ♂-capitula there
are many flowers without calyx, but with tubular corolla and
free involucral leaves. In the ♀-capitula there are only 2
flowers, which are entirely destitute of both calyx and corolla;
involucral leaves 2-spined, united to form an ovoid, bilocular
envelope, each compartment containing one flower. The envelope
of involucral leaves unites with the fruits, enclosing them at
maturity with a hard covering from which numerous hook-like
spines project, assisting very greatly in the distribution of
the fruit. The whole structure thus finally becomes a 1- or
2-seeded _false_ nut.--_Ambrosia_, the ♀ capitulum 1-flowered.
POLLINATION. The flowers are somewhat insignificant, but become
very conspicuous owing to a number being crowded together in
one inflorescence. The corollas of the ray-flowers, being
often very large (_Astereæ_; _Centaurea_), frequently render
the capitula still more conspicuous. The capitula display
many biological phenomena similar to those often shown by the
individual flowers in other orders, e.g. by periodically opening
and closing, in which the involucral leaves resemble the calyx
in their action. (The name “Compositæ” originates from the term
“flos compositus,” composite flower). An abundance of honey is
formed, which to some extent fills up the corolla-tube, and
since insects may visit a number of flowers in the course of a
short period they are very frequently visited, especially by
butterflies and bees. The pollination has been described on page
567. Protandry is universal. In the bud the tips of the styles,
covered by the sweeping-hairs, lie closely enveloped by the
anther-tube; in the next stage the style grows through the tube
and sweeps out the pollen as it proceeds; ultimately the stylar
branches expand and the stigma is then prepared to receive the
pollen. In many, the sensitiveness of the filaments assists in
sweeping out the pollen at the exact moment of the insect visit.
Regular self-pollination is found _e.g._ in _Senecio vulgaris_;
wind-pollination _e.g._ in _Artemisia_ and the plants related to
it.
This extremely natural and well-defined order is the largest
(and no doubt one of the youngest?); it embraces 10–12,000
known species (in 770 genera), or about one-tenth of all
Flowering-plants. They are distributed over the whole globe, but
are most numerous in temperate countries; the majority prefer
open spaces; a smaller number are forest-forms. They abound
especially in open districts in America.
Among the substances frequently found may be mentioned: INULIN
(especially in the subterranean parts), BITTER materials,
Tannin, volatile oils, fatty oils in the fruits. MEDICINAL:[40]
“Herba” of _Artemisia absinthium_ (Wormwood) and _maritima_[+]
(Sea-wormwood), _Achillea millefolium_; the _leaves_ of _Cnicus
benedictus_ and _Tussilago farfara_; the unopened _capitula_
of _Artemisia maritima_, var. _stechmanniana_; the _capitula_
of _Tanacetum_, _Matricaria chamomilla_[+] (wild Chamomile),
_Anthemis nobilis_[+] (common Chamomile); the separate flowers
of _Arnica_; the _roots_ of _Arnica montana_[+], _Taraxacum
officinale_[+], _Anacyclus officinarum_[+], _Lappa major_,
_minor_, _nemorosa_ and _tomentosa_, _Inula helenium_ and
_Artemisia vulgaris_; the latex of _Lactuca virosa_[+]. The
following are cultivated for food:--_Lactuca sativa_ (Lettuce),
_Cichorium endivia_ (from E. Asia, for salads), _Cynara
scolymus_ (Artichoke, Mediterranean), _Scorzonera hispanica_
(S. Eur.), _Helianthus tuberosus_ (Jerusalem Artichoke, from N.
Am., introduced into Europe 1616), _Cichorium intybus_ (roots
as “chicory,”) _Tragopogon porrifolium_ (Salsafy), _Artemisia
dracunculus_. OIL is extracted from the following (the seeds):
_Helianthus annuus_ (Peru), _Madia sativa_ (Chili), _Guizotia
oleifera_ (Abyssinia). DYES from: _Carthamus tinctorius_
(Safflower, used in the preparation of rouge; Egypt), _Serratula
tinctoria_. INSECT-POWDER from: _Pyrethrum cinerariifolium_
(Dalmatia) and _roseum_ (Persia, Caucasus). The following are
cultivated in houses and gardens for the sake of their scented
leaves:--_Tanacetum balsamita_ (Balsam), _Artemisia abrotanum_
(Southernwood) and _A. argentea_. A great many of the genera
enumerated are cultivated in dwelling-houses for the sake of
the flowers; _e.g._ _Pericallis cruenta_ (generally termed
“Cineraria”). _Asteriscus pygmæus_ is supposed to be the genuine
“Rose of Jericho”; the involucral leaves envelop the fruits
after their ripening and keep them enclosed for 8–10 months
until rain occurs.