COMPOSITiE. 121 



HiERAciUM. L. 17. 1. Hawkweed. 



Five species, H. venosum., L., Gronovii, L., Kalmii, L., maria- 

 num, W., and paniculatum, W., are common in the borders of 

 fields and woods, all natives of this country. The genus has 

 about 80 species, of which nearly seven-tenths are indigenous to 

 Europe, and one tenth to North America. Very few of them 

 appear to have much of either utility or beauty. 



H. venosum. L. Stem 2 feet high, naked and branching, 

 with long radical leaves, strongly marked with dark-red veins. 



It seems to have been a notion, that the hawk strengthened its 

 vision by the juice of some of these plants ; hence the English 

 name, and also the generic name from the Greek for a hawk. 

 Loudon. 



LlATRIS. L. 17. 1. 



L. scariosa. W. Gay Feather. A splendid plant, when its 

 long raceme is in full blossom ; flowers of a bright-blue, on a 

 simple stem, with long leaves, narrowed at both ends ; blossoms 

 in August ; Danvers. Cultivated in gardens for its beauty. 



L. spicata. W. Another beautiful species ; a cultivated but 

 more rare plant ; flowers purple. 



This is an American genus of near 20 species, usually found 

 in more southern latitudes. The origin of the generic name is 

 not known ; the English name is truly characteristic. The spe- 

 cies are considered an antidote for the bite of the rattlesnake, 

 and L. scariosa is often called Rattlesnake's ^Master. 



Vernonia. L. 17. 1. 



An American genus of 10 species ; one in India. Named 

 after William Vernon, who collected plants in America. 



V. JVoveboracensis. W. Flat Top. Stem 3-5 feet high, 

 branching at the top, and the flowers spread out on branches, so 

 as to be nearly flat and level, with numerous scabrous leaves ; 

 flowers small and dark-purple ; wet places. 



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