1 88 CHRYSOPSIS MARIANA. MARYLAND GOLDEN STAR. 



In our description, as quoted from Dr. Chapman's work, we 

 have spoken of the stem as being " covered with loose, silky, 

 deciduous hairs," and the attentive reader may have noticed 

 that this hardly corresponds with our drawing. The explana- 

 tion of the apparent discrepancy is, however, foreshadowed in 

 the word " deciduous." Our plant, in common with several 

 other species of the same genus, has a peculiar, cobwebby 

 appearance when young, which always attracts the attention of 

 the observer. This appearance is due to the light and tangled 

 hairs which then clothe the stem, but which are shed as the 

 jDlant grows older. Thus, in the specimen chosen for our illus- 

 tration, these silky hairs have all fallen off, and nothing is seen 

 of a hairy appearance except a coarser, somewhat glandular 

 kind of hair, which remain, as shown by the plate, not only on 

 the stem, but also on the peduncles or flower-stalks. These 

 two conditions of our species must be borne in mind by the col- 

 lector, since the hair is usually referred to as characteristic in 

 the descriptions given by botanists. 



Like most of the plants allied to the Asters, our species is an 

 autumn bloomer. In Pennsylvania, for instance, it flowers early 

 in September. There is such an abundance of yellow flowers 

 of the asteraceous order at this season that there is hardly a 

 desire for new species, especially. as many of them have rather 

 a w^eedy look. But the Chrysopsis Mariana has a very elegant 

 habit of growth, and it ought, therefore, to be welcome in gar- 

 dens, although we do not know of any attempts to cultivate it. 



We know of no generally accepted English common name 

 for the genus. Dr. Gray names it " Golden Aster," which is 

 very pretty, but apt to be misunderstood, as these plants are not 

 true Asters. " Gold Flower " would be quite appropriate, but 

 unfortunately this has been given to a sort of poppy in CaHfor- 

 nia. We may get out of the difficulty, however, by translating 

 "Aster," and so we shall call our flower the " Maryland Golden 

 Star." 



Explanation of the Plate. — i. Stalk with flowers. — z. Achene and pappus. 



