COMPOSITE 



THE FRUIT: achenes; pappus none. 



One of the everywhere plants and, in a sense, one of the 

 always plants. For its rather large clusters of flowers 

 persist, withered and brown, often all winter, long after 

 the finely dissected, feathery, dark green leaves have dis- 

 appeared. A stiff plant, with a strong, rather disagreeable 

 odour, not so attractive when white, but very pretty in 

 the coloured forms. Under a microscope, too, the flowerets 

 are particularly beautiful. 



Though not always handsome, the plant is useful. For 

 "it checks excessive discharges." Evidently its virtues 

 have long been known. So has come the botanical name, 

 Achillea, and so have accumulated the long list of common 

 names, many of which indicate its medicinal value. 



COMPOSITE COMPOSITE FAMILY 



Anthemis Cotula, L. 



White, with yellow May-weed, Dog-fennel, 



centre Chamomile, Fetid, 



Dog's-chamomile, Pig-sty, 

 June-October Dog-Daisy, Stinking-daisy. 



Anthemis: the ancient Greek name of the Chamomile. 

 Cotula: from Greek for a cup or socket. 



THE PREFERRED HABITAT: well-travelled roadsides, neg- 

 lected fields. 



THE PLANT: erect or spreading, from one foot to two feet 

 high; much branched; the stem usually without hairs but 

 sometimes with short, soft hairs above. 



THE LEAVES: alternate; one to three pinnately-divided 

 into narrow, almost thread-like, acute lobes, from one 

 inch to two inches long; hairless or sometimes with short, 

 soft hairs above; mostly stemless. 



406 



