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Hence the Horologe or Watch of Flora is formed from numerous plants, of which the following are those most common in this country. Leontodon taraxacum, Dandelion, opens at 5 6, closes at 8 9. Hieracium pilosella, mouse-ear hawkweed, opens at 8, closes at 2. Sonchus lævis, smooth Sow-thistle, at 5 and at 11 12. Lactuca sativa, cultivated Lettice, at 7 and jo.
The definitive formation is made in extreme youth, often even during the previous summer, at the time of the very first evolution of the young organs within the buds. Iris, and Lactuca Scariola or the prickly lettuce, and many other plants afford similar instances.
Brambles and roses are widely known instances, but oaks, elms, apples, and pears, Mentha, Prunus, Vitis, Lactuca, Cucumis, Cucurbita and numerous others are in the same condition. In some instances the existence of elementary species is so obvious, that they have been described by taxonomists as systematic varieties or even as good species. The primroses afford a widely known example.
There are varieties of artemisia or sage-brush, antennaria, columbine, the barberry, spiraea, Russian thistle, eriophyllous, chrysothamnus, plantago, dandelions, lepidium, chaenactic, linum, hosackia, cirsium, astragulus, ambrosia, euphorbia, pleustemon, achillea millefolium, erodium, or stork's bill, orthocarpous, vilia, solidago, lactuca, helianthus, erigeron, brickellia, malvastrum, ptelea or a desert hop-tree, polygonum, sphedra, lupines, castilleia, lathyrus, verbena and a score of others.
The pungency seems to reside in the bark; the sweet in the juice; the aromatic flavour in oily vesicles, spread through the substance of the pulp, and distinguishable even by the eye; and the bitter in the seeds: the fresh berries yield, on expression, a rich, sweet, honey-like, aromatic juice; if previously pounded so as to break the seeds, the juice proves tart and bitter. LACTUCA virosa.
This plant has been so long cultivated in this country, that its native place is not known. The seeds are sown in the spring, and it is in use all the winter. LETTUCE. Lactuca sativa. The varieties of lettuce are many. They are, Green Coss. White do. Silesia do. Brown do. Egyptian do. Brown Dutch. White Cabbage. Imperial. Hammersmith Hardy. Tennis-ball. These are sown every summer month.
Woodville's Med. Bot. p. 76. Similar Plants. Sonchus arvensis; Lactuca Scariola. LAVANDULA Spica. LAVENDER. Flowers. L. D. Lavender has been an officinal plant for a considerable time, though we have no certain accounts of it given by the ancients.
The roots, in the winter season, when destitute of leaves, may, however, be mistaken for those of Parsnep, Parsley, Skirret, and many others of similar shape, and of which it is out of our power to give a distinguishing character. LACTUCA virosa. STRONG-SCENTED WILD LETTUCE. The juice of this plant is a very powerful opiate, and care should be taken how it is made use of.
The waters are covered with zostera; and in the midst of a very extensive bank of weeds, we distinguish a free and circular spot of three feet in diameter, on which float a few scattered masses of Ulva lactuca. Here the springs are found.
The principal use of the roots is, however, for the purposes of perfumery, for which it is in considerable demand. LACTUCA sativa. GARDEN LETTUCE. The Leaves and Seeds. It smells strongly of opium, and resembles it in its effects; and its narcotic power, like that of the poppy heads, resides in its milky juice. An extract from the expressed juice is recommended in small doses in dropsy.
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