WEEDS OF MAINE. 



259 



steadily advancing inland, especially toT^ards the west ; but it is 

 hoped "that all good cultivators will see that he does not reside 

 long enough with them to be able to get his naturalization papers." 



Thornt Clotbuh. 



54. Cone-flower.-" NiGGEK Heads. "-Yellow-weed — /JurfJecfaa hirta. Perennial? 

 Stem simple or branched from the base, one to four feet high. Leaves two to three in- 

 ches long. Heads large and showy. Dis/t-flowers dark purple. Rays twelve to fifteen, 

 bright yellow. Receptacle conical. 



Not many years ago this plant was almost unknown in this 

 State, but within a few years it has become very abundant in our 

 grass lands. Each succeeding season it seems to be more preva- 

 lent than the one previous. It is a more villainous plant than the 

 white-weed, for the more the ground is cultivated the more abun- 

 dant it will be. Last season we saw a grass field under good cul- 

 tivation, just yellow with the showy flowers of t"he cone flower. 

 This plant was introduced in grass seed from the West. 



55. Jerusalkm Artichoke. Common Artichoke — Helianthtis tuberosus. Root, bear- 

 ing oblong tubers, perennial. Stem four to six feet high, stout, and clothed with stiff 

 hairs. Leaves four to seven inches long. Heads rather large, with yellow rays. 



The artichoke is a native of Brazil, introduced to this country 

 for its fleshy tubers, which were pickled and used as a condiment. 



