COMPOSITE FAMILY 



ing leaves whose borders are not merely wavy 

 but actually ruffled. These In shape are ovate 

 or lanceolate, though often the leaf seems to be 

 narrowing toward a winged petiole, which makes 

 an obovate form. 



But this typical form is not frequent enough 

 to be an infallible guide, especially as a heart- 

 shaped leaf on a margined petiole, a leaf con- 

 tracted to a short, broadly winged petiole, di- 

 lated at the base, is not only common, but per- 

 haps the most frequent form. Margins vary 

 — entire, wavy, serrate, dentate — and the apex 

 is either acute or acuminate. 



The leaves being so casual one turns to the 

 flowers for help. The stem is crowned with a 

 loose, open terminal cluster of spreading stars, 

 pale lavender, just not white, though now and 

 then one may find a deeper tint. Each flower- 

 head bears eight to fifteen rays, each half an 

 inch long, which gives a spread of about an inch 

 and an eighth to the head. The general effect 

 of this inflorescence is fairly stable. These 

 leaves of A. tmdulatus often simulate those of 



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