COMPOSITJE. 



186 



Gr. Xi, a syllable prefixed to strengthen the signification, and uT^wi, 

 invulnerable ; "one of the species is said to cure the bite of the ralttle-snake. 

 Perennial herbs (or shrubs). Stem simple. Root tuberous. Lvs. alternate, 

 Fls. cyanic. 



1. L. scAPao'sA. 



Stevi hairy, erect ; leaves lanceolate, pubescent with a scabrous margin ; 

 heads in long racemes or spikes; scales obovate, nearly smooth with a 

 membranous," colored margin, the lower ones spreading. This handsome 

 plant grows 4—5 feet high, in woods and sandy hills. Stem rather stout. 

 Heads an inch in diameterr Corollas purple, numerous, alteinate and distant, 

 in a long, erect dense i-aceme. It is regarded as efficacious in curing the 

 rattle-snake's bite, for which purpose the bruised root is applied to the wound, 

 while a decoction of the same in milk is taken inwardly. Aug. Gay Feather. 



2. L. SQUARRO'SA. 



Slem simple, hairy ; hiives numerous, long-linear, nerved ; margins a little 

 rouo-h; raceme leafy, few-flowered; scales of involucre leafy above, rigid, 

 lanceolate, spreading. In dry, sandy soils. Stem 2—3 feet high, thickly 

 beset with Ion?, linear leaves. An extremely beautiful plant with u— 20 large 

 heads of brilliant purple flowers. It varies in degrees of pubescence, leafiness, 

 flowerln.T. &c. This, with many other species of this fine N. American 

 o-enus, well deserves a place in the flower garden. Like the former species 

 ft is considered an antidote to the bile of a rattle-snake. Aug. Blazing Star. 



3. L. spicATA, another beautiful species with purple flowers is occasionally 

 cultivated in gardens. Native of the Middle States. 



5. AGERA'TUM. 

 Heads many-flowered, subglobose, discoid ; involucre im- 

 bricated ; style exserted ; receptacle naked; pappus of 5 

 somewhat awned paJEe. 



Gr. a-, privative, and ynQcci, old age ; because it never grows old, that is, 

 always preserves its color. Tropical annual herbs. Lvs. opposite. 



1. A. MexiCA'NUM.— Hispid ; leaves cordate, ovate, crenate, rugose;. 

 eorj/?n& compound ; chaff of the pappus lanceolate, awned. A Mexican plant 

 with blue, imperishable flowers. Mexican Agtratxim. 



2. A. CONyzoi'DES. — Stem hairy, branching; ieares ovate, subserrate, 

 on lono- stalks ; chaff' of the pappus awned, denticulate. Native of Georgia 

 and alfTropical America. An ornamental species with light blue flowers. 



Conyza-like ^geratum. 



6. STE'VIA. 

 Flowers all tubular; beads cylindric; scales in a single 

 row; receptacle naked ; pappus chaffy. 



In honor of Peter James Esteve, a Spanish physician and botanist of the 

 16th century. Mexican, mostly perennial herbs. Lvs. alternate. Fls. cyanic. 



1. S. SERR a'tA- — Leaves linear-lanceolate, serrate at the end ; eorymhs 

 fastio-iate; -papmis chaffy and awned. Flowers flesh-colored. Plant 1—2 

 feet high. Cultivated. July— Sept. Sweet-scented Steyia 



