MEADOWS, FIELDS AND PASTURES— SPRING 117 



of this grow the spreading leaves and the hollow stalks of the soUtary 

 flower-heads. The former vary very considerably in shape, but 

 are usually long and narrow, broader at the apex, and cut into 

 triangular lobes which generally point backwards. Sometimes, 

 however, the 

 leaves are al- 

 most entire; and 

 they also vary 

 in colom*, from 

 a bright to a 

 very dull green. 

 The peduncles 

 vary from two 

 to eight inches 

 in length ; and 

 the florets of the 

 head, which are 

 all yellow, are 

 surrounded by 

 an inner whorl 

 of narrow, erect 

 bracts, and outer 

 bracts which 

 either overlap or 

 are turned back 

 on the stalk. 

 The Httle fruits 

 have projecting 

 points towards 

 the top, and are 

 provided with a 

 slender beak, 

 three or four 

 times as long as 

 the achene itself, at the summit of which is a tuft of silky hairs. 



Our last example of the composite flowers is the Butterbur, 

 variously named Tussiktgo vulgaris, Petasites vulgaris, and Tussilago 

 Petasites. It resembles the Common Colt's-foot {Tussilago Farj'ara) 

 in several respects ; and, as will be seen from the above names, is 

 sometimes included in the same genus. Its leaves are very large, 

 and very similar to those of the Colt's-foot, being cordate and toothed, 



THE BUTTEUBUR. 



