32 ANTENNARIA PLANTAGINIFOLIA. MOUSE-EAR EVERLASTING. 



develop its peculiarities. If we compare two single flowers, taken 

 from different patches, it may be difficult, perhaps, to express their 

 difference in words. But the multitude of little flowers seen 

 crowded together in one patch imparts a very distinctive charac- 

 ter to the whole, so that scarcely any two patches look alike. 



The generic name of Antcnnaria plantaginifolia is from the 

 Greek, and refers to the shape of the bristles which form the 

 pappus or down of the male flowers. (Fig. 2) These bristles 

 thicken towards the upper end, looking like miniature clubs, and 

 in this respect resemble the antenna- or " feelers " of some 

 insects. Hence the name. The specific appellation plantagi- 

 nifolia is derived from our common weed, the plantain, or the 

 " White Man's Footprint," as the Indians call it, because it 

 seems to follow closely on civilization wherever this goes. The 

 leaves of the plantain have a mid-vein or rib, and on each side 

 of this other veins or ribs, which describe a section of an arc 

 from the base to the apex. The winter leaves of our plant have 

 three veins of a similar character, and generally resemble the 

 plantain leaf in shape, so that the epithet " plantain-leaved " is 

 quite appropriate. 



We have seen that Antennaria used to be classed with Gna- 

 phalitim. The plants belonging to the latter genus are truly 

 called " Everlasting," from the enduring character of the flowers 

 of some of them, and very naturally the family name clung to 

 our plant even after it had severed its former connection. 



The different aspects of the male and female flowers strike 

 the observer at once, and have been very well represented in the 

 plate by our artist. Fig. i being the female, and Fig. 2 the male. 



The Mouse-Ear Everlasting is common through all the At- 

 lantic States on the lower lands, but it does not apjoear to have 

 crossed the Mississippi to any great extent. Mr. Butler reports 

 that it is sparingly found in Arkansas. 



Explanation of the Plate. — i. A plant with female flowers. — 2. Flower stalk with 

 male flowers. 



