THE SUNFLOWERS 



The Sunflowers of the garden are mostly hy- 

 brids and variants of Ilelidnthiis dnniius, to- 

 gether with a few wild species which have been 

 subjected to culture and selection. Those of 

 the fields and roadsides are largely made up of 

 Helianthus, the real Sunflower; Heliopsis the 

 near Sunflower; Silphiiim the tall Sunflower, 

 and Bldens the two- toothed, which in one of 

 its forms stands out as a very brilliant member 

 of the group. In addition we may include Rud- 

 beckia lacinidta bearing flower-heads three to 

 four inches across, and distinguished from its 

 companions by its slightly drooping rays and 

 its cut leaves; the lowest five to seven cleft, the 

 uppermost three-cleft or undivided. The leafy 

 monumental stems of Elecampane olFten ap- 

 pear among the Sunflower group and the plant 

 may well be reckoned as one of them. The 

 popular name Sunflower includes all of these. 

 All are of the Radiate-Composite type. The 



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