composiTjE. 205 helianthus. 



2 5. HELIA'NTHUS. 

 Involucre imbricate, scales often leafy; ray-flowers neutral; 

 disk perfect; receptacle chatly, flat; pappus chatFy, 2-leaved, 

 caducous; achenia compressed or 4-sided. 



Gr. iiXios, the sun, avBoi, a flower; from the resemblance of the flowers. 

 The broad, round disk surrounded with golden rays render the Sunjlowcr a 

 fit emblem of the king of day. Lower leaves opposite. Fls. yellow, 



* Leaves opposite. 



1. H. StRUMO'SUS. L. 



Stein, smooth below, scabrous above; leaves ovate-lanceolate, acute serrate, 

 scabrous above, smooth or tomentose-canescant beneath ; jloicers kvj,, termi- 

 nal. Grows in swamps, «&c. Stem 3 — 5 feet high, erect, branching above. 

 Leaves petiolate, with an acute point and close serratures, the lower suifaco 

 varying in the degree of pubescence. Rays bright yellow, an inch or more in 

 length. Scales hairy, July. Per, Downy Sunflower. 



p. mollis (H, mollis, U'iLld)] lower surface of tlie leaves very soil with 

 whitish down. 



2. H. DIVARICATUS. 



Slem smooth, very branching; leaves nearly opposite, sessile, ovate-lanceo- 

 late, 3-nerved, scabrous above, smooth beneath ; /jawic/c trichotomous,olender, 

 few-flowered. Not uncommon in rocky woods, brooksides, &c. Stem 5 feet 

 high, glaucous. Leaves rather abrupt at base, tapering to a long, acute point, 

 with obtuse serratures. Flowers large, although small for the genus, few, 

 yellow and very sJiowy. The panicle is eitJier 2 or 3-iorked. This plant is 

 much improved by cultivation. Aug, Sept. Per. Spreading Suiijloutr. 



3. H. FRONDO'SUS. 



Stem smooth below ; Iciivrs opposite, ovate, acutely serrate ; peduncles 

 scabrous; m^o/wcre squarrose, undulate, leafy, ciliale ; rfiys 8. In woods. 

 Stem "3 — 5 feet high, with numerous 3-nervea leaves, which are rough on the 

 upper surface, paier and p.ear'y smooth beneath, and with a few remote and 

 acute teeth. Flowers terminal, small, yellow. Aug. Per. Laifij Sunjloiccr. 



4. H. TRACIIELIFO'LIUS. 



Leaves opposite, ovate-lanceolate, on short petioles, serrate, acuminate, 

 3-nerved, very rou.gh on both sides ; involucre scales spreading at the ends, 

 narrowly lanceolate, acute ciliate, pubescent ; rays numerous. From 2 to 4 

 feet liigh, in liiily woods. Slem branching above into a loose panicle. Flowers 

 middle size, with 12 or more rays. Aug. Sept. Per. Dwarf Sunjiowcr. 



o. H, decape'talus. 



Leaves opposite, ovate, acuminate, remotely serrate, 3-nerved, scabrous 

 above, smooth or nearly so beneath ; involucre scales lanceolate-linear, 

 subciliate, spreading, nearly equal; rays 10 — 12, pale yellow. Stem 3 — 4 

 feet high, purplish. Involucre varying in all degiees of leafiness between the 

 present form and the following. Aug. Ten-rayed SuvjloicLr. 



* * Upper cauline loaves alternate. 

 6. H. GIGA'NTEUS. L. H. altissinus. 



Leaves alternate (the lowest opposite), lanceolate, acuminate, serrate, scab- 

 rous, obscurely 3-nerved, tapering at base into short, ciliate, winged petioles ; 

 Ecales o! the involucre laiiceolate-linear, ciliate. Stem 4 — 8 feet high, purplish, 



s 



