and healthful. The expressed juice of the leaves is often drunk
as a remedy in dyspepsia. 4 other species are found in Europe.
Forms a very profitable crop near cities.
K rigia. L. 17. 1. Dwarf Dandelion.
K. Virginica. L. A small, humble plant, much resembling
a neglected dandelion ; grows in fields and open woods ; blossoms
from May to August, with a scape often only 2 — 3 inches
high.
K. amplexicaulis. Nutt. Has a stem a foot high, divided
into branches, and yet like a scape or radical flower-stalk ; flowers
large, orange-yellow, terminating the branches ; has little interest;
blossoms in June.
This is a North American genus, and was named after Dr.
Krieg, a German botanist, who collected plants in this country.
A pargia. W. 17. T.
•9. autumnalis. W. False Hawkweed. Has single yellow
flowers on a scape, with radical leaves, toothed or pinnatified ;
resembles Dandelion ; a mere weed ; flowers from July to September.
Introduced from Europe, where about a dozen other
species are found.
C ichorium. L. 17. 1.
C. intybus. L. Succory. Endive. An elegant plant, 2 or
3 feet high, roughish, with large blue flowers, mostly in pairs along
the stem ; roadsides and pastures ; July to September ; leaves
runcinate.
The blanched leaves are eaten as a winter-sallad. In France,
it is said, the roots of one variety are dried and ground with
coffee, to give it a more exquisite flavor. Loudon.
C. endivia. L. The Endive of the English, brought from
the East Indies ; cultivated for its blanched leaves ; much like
Celery.
L actuca. L. 17. 1. Lettuce.
Three species indigenous to this State ; two, integrifolia, and
sanguined, Big., chiefly about Boston, and first described by Dr.
Bigelow ; another, villosa, has also been found.
L. elongata. Tall or Wild Lettuce. A large, strong plant,
often 6 or more feet high, about fences in cultivated fields, with
long and large runcinate leaves, clasping the stem. Totally different
from Fireweed.
In the gardens are cultivated several varieties of L. saliva, L .,
Common Lettuce. As a sallad, few plants compare with these
varieties. As food, it is a rather soporiferous but healthful vegetable.
The genus is named from the milky juice of the leaves, in
which is contained some opium. Indeed, this drug, little inferior
to the opium of the poppy, has been obtained in England and in
this country by incisions in the plants. Cultivation lessens the
quantity of the juice. L. elongata yields it in great quantity
and perfection. About 20 species are indigenous to Britain, or
cultivated there.
P renanthes. L. 17. 1.
The name is derived from the Greek for drooping floicer, a
common character of the species.
4 species, natives of this country, are found in this State ; contain
a white juice, and resemble Wild Lettuce.
P. alba. L. White Lettuce. About fields, 4 — 5 feet high.
P . altissima. L. Tall, often 6 feet high, in woods. None
of the species of any use in New England. P. cordata, Ph.,
and P. virgata, Mx., are distinguished, the former by yellowish,
the latter by pale-purple flowers. One species, P. serpentaria,
Ph., which grows in the Southern States, and is called Lion’s
Foot, is used for the cure of the bite of the rattlesnake ; it does
not greatly differ from P. alba.