2i8 WILD FLOWER FAMILIES 



weed or Purple Boneset are among the most 

 attractive blossoms in wet places and along the 

 borders of marshes. This is one of the Com- 

 posites having no ray flowers, so that the color 

 efl^ect is due to tubular florets and some rows of 

 pinkish overlapping bracts belonging to the in- 

 volucre that surrounds the flower-head. In bare, 

 dry soil it may rise three feet, while in rich, moist 

 soil it may reach three times that height. The 

 flowers are freely visited by butterflies and bees. 

 Its name is due to a famous Indian medicine-man 

 in New England, who used in it his practice. 



Iron-weed. Another familiar flower of late 

 summer and early autumn is the Iron-weed. This 

 is easily recognized as a member of the great 

 family of composite plants having no ray florets. 

 Its purplish-red flower-heads are borne on short 

 stems in such a way as to make broad clusters, 

 on account of w^hich the plant is called Flat Top 

 in some localities. The flowers have a general 

 resemblance to small thistle-heads and are freely 

 visited by many bees and butterflies. 



The Goldenrods. During the weeks of late 

 summer and early autumn the Goldenrods are the 

 most effective members of Nature's floral pageant. 

 They cover the hills with a mantle of beautiful yel- 

 low ; they light up the dark swamps with spots of 

 glowing gold ; they fringe the roadsides with 

 tassels of inimitable grace; they dot the open 



