Urospermum
(from ouros, a tail, and spermum, a seed; alluding to the beaked achenes). Sheep's Beard. SYN. Arnopogon. ORD. Compositae. A small genus (two species) of hardy, annual or biennial, slightly-branched herbs, natives of the Mediterranean region. Flower-heads yellow, long-pedunculate at the tips of the branches; involucre campanulate, with seven or eight bracts in one series, spiny outside; receptacle conical, naked; ray florets ligulate, truncately five-toothed at apex; achenes beaked. Leaves radical or alternate, deeply toothed or lyrate-pinnatifid; cauline ones amplexicaul. Only one species calls for mention here. It is a biennial, of easy culture in common soil. U. Dalechampii (Dalechamp's). fl.-heads on naked peduncles; involucre velvety-pubescent. June. l. variously runcinate, toothed. h. 1 1/2ft. South Europe, 1739 SYN. Arnopogon Dalechampii (B. M. 1623; S. F. G. 780).