COMPOSITE FAMILY 



ELECAMPANE, HORSEHEAL 



Inula heUnium 



Inula, an ancient Latin name of obscure origin. 



A coarse, stout, perennial herb, three to five feet high, 

 bearing large, yellow flower-heads. Dwells along the 

 roadside, but oftener in damp pastures. Naturalized 



from Europe. Nova Scotia to 

 Minnesota, south to North Caro- 

 lina and Missouri. July-Sep- 

 tember. 



Roots. — ^Large, thick, mucilag- 

 inous. 



Stem. — Three to five feet high, 

 densely hairy, rarely branched. 



Leaves. — Alternate, broadly 

 hairy, rough above, velvety be- 

 neath, somewhat toothed, acute 

 at apex, midvein conspicuous. 

 The larger lower leaves taper 

 toward either end and are set on 

 slender winged petioles; stem 

 leaves sessile or cordate-clasp- 

 ing, smaller than the others. 



Flower-heads. — Radiate-com- 

 posite, solitary or few, terminal, stout-peduncled, two to 

 four inches across. Involucre flattish, outer bracts leaf- 

 like. Ray-florets many, linear-pistillate, the strap toothed. 

 Disk-florets perfect, tubular, five-toothed. Akenes with 

 pappus of rough bristles. 



The Elecampane may be easily distinguished from 

 the wild Sunflowers, the only plants with which it 

 might in any way be confused, by the character of 

 the rays of the composite flower-head. The tubular 

 florets are set in a large, flat disk and this is surrounded 



242 



Elecampane. Inula heUnium 



