Cephalaria
(from kephale, a head; the flowers being disposed in round heads). ORD. Dipsaceoe. A genus of hardy annual or perennial herbs, closely allied to Dipsacus. Flower-heads terminal, globose; involucre surrounding the heads of many imbricated leaves, shorter than the paleae. Leaves toothed or pinnatifid. Most of the species are too coarse to admit of their being grown in the ordinary borders, but they are very desirable for naturalising in the wild garden, or other similar places. For culture, see Dipsacus. C. tartarica (Tartarian). fl.-heads yellow, large; paleae deep green, white inside, ciliated. Summer. l. pinnate; leaflets decurrent, oval-lanceolate, serrated. Stems striated, clothed with retrograde villi at the base and on the petioles. h. 5ft. to 6ft. Siberia, 1759. Perennial.
Several other names occur in nurserymen's catalogues, but the above-mentioned species is the best.