composite:. 196 SOLIDAGO, 



rough edges. Flowers white, very numerous, small, of mean appearance, 

 irregularly racemose upon the branches, and constituting a large, oblong pan- 

 icle. The plant varies greatly in size according to the soil. Aug — Nov. 



Common Fleubane. 



13. BELLIS. 

 Heads many-flowered ; rays pistillate; disk perfect; invo- 

 lucre hen>ispherical, of equal scales; receptacle subalveolate, 

 conical ; pappus 0. 



Lat. hellus, pretty ; a term which well characterizes the Daisy. 



B. PERE'NNIS. — Scajje naked, single-flowered; Zearfs obovate, crenate. 

 Native of England and other parts of Europe, naturalizpd in some parts of 

 N. England in cultivated ground. Scape 3 or 4 inches high, with a single 

 white riowcr which is single, double or quilled in the different varieties. Blos- 

 soms in the spring and summer months. Per. Garden Daisy^ 



14. DA'HLIA. 

 Involucre double, the outer series many-leaved, the inner 

 1-leaved, 8-parted; receptacle chaify; pappus 0. 



Named for Andrew Dahl, a Swedish botanist, pupil of Linnffius. Splendid 

 perennial. Mexican herbs. Leaves pinnate, opposite. 



1. D. SUPE'RFLUA. — /Jac/u's ofthe/eflres winged; Zeo/efs ovate, acumi- 

 nate, serrate, sinning and smooth beneath; outer involucre reflexed. This 

 superb and fashionable genus is a native of sandy meadows in Mexico. 



Barren-rayed Dahlia^ 



2. D. FRUSTRA'NE A. — Rachis of the leaves naked ; leaflets ovate-acumi- 

 nate, serrate, roughish beneath ; outer involucre spreading. The Dahlia has 

 coarse and rough leaves resembling those of the common elder, but the flow- 

 ers are large and beautiful, sporting into numerous varieties of single and 

 double-flowers, of every possible shade of scarlet, crimson, purple, red and 

 yellow. They grow in any soil or situation, and the poorer the soil the small- 

 er the plant, but the earlier and more abundant the flowers. If raised from 

 seeds the plants will blossom the second year, or the first, if sown in February 

 and forced by artificial heat. They are more generally propagated by the di- 

 visions of the roots. As soon as the frost blackens the tops, the roots require 

 to be taken up and kept in a dry place, secure from frost until spring. They 

 are the better secured by being buried in dry sand. Fertile-rayed Dahlia. 



Section II. Heads ratliate. Rays yellow. 



15. SOLID A' GO. 

 Flowers of the ray about 5, remote, of the disk perfect; 

 involucre oblong, imbricate, with appressed scales; recepta- 

 cle punctate, narrow; pappus simple, capillary, scabrous. 



Lat. soUdari, to unite ; from the vulnerary qualities of the plants. A large 

 genus of perennial herbs Stems erect, branching near the top. Lvs. alternate. 

 Heads small, with from 1 to 1.5 small ravs (very rarely 0). Fls. yellow (one 

 species S. bicolor, has whitish rays). The species are exceedingly abundant 

 in the United States, and, with the Aster, are every where seen in blos^m 

 in the autumnal months. 



