770 ON THE VOLCANO OF TAAL, 



with the grass, sharing with insignificant Compositse such an 

 abundant growth that they cease to be noticed. They are as 

 frequent and widely-spread in Africa as in Asia. 



123. Spermacoce stricta, L, 



124. Spermacoce scaberrima, Blunie. Both these species 

 equally common and diffused. 



COMPOSITE. 



All the members of this order on the Volcano of Taal are small 

 unimpoi'tant weeds, and this is the case throughout the Philip- 

 pines. The order has but few representatives in the islands, and 

 hese are unimportant. 



125. Vernonia cinerea, Less. This common little weed, with 

 small purple flowers like a small sow-thistle, is well represented 

 in Australia as far south as Twofold Bay. 



126. Ageratum conyzoides, L, A common weed over all the 

 warmer regions of the globe, for which we have to thank its 

 introduction as a garden flower. It is a rather pretty species, 

 with pale blue flower-heads, but has become a feai'ful weed in 

 many places. In Queensland it has spread like the thistle, 

 driving out useful fodder, while no animal will eat it. 



127. Blumea lacera, DC. Certainly one of the commonest 

 weeds in the tropics of Asia and Africa, extending into China. 

 None of the species are either useful or ornamental, but they all 

 have a powerful odor which is aromatic in some cases. The flower- 

 heads are seldom above three lines long, in loose spreading panicles. 



128. Blumea manilensis, DC. 



129. Blumea laciniata, DC. 



130. Blumea balsamifera, DC. 



131. Sph^ranthus indicus, L. 



132. Eclipta alba, Hassk. 



133. Spilanthes acmella, L. 



