Late August and Early September 



One of the commonest species, and one 

 of the earUest to blossom, is the rough 

 golden - rod, a plant \vith hairy stem, 

 thick, rough, oblong leaves, and small 

 heads, each one of which is made up of 

 from seven to nine ray-flowers and from 

 four to seven disk-flowers. Occasionally 

 it will be found growing to a height of 

 five or six feet, but ordinarily it is one of 

 the lowest of the genus. The elm-leaved 

 species is a somewhat similar-looking 

 plant, with thinner, larger leaves, a 

 smooth stem, and with only about four 

 ray-flowers to each little head. The so- 

 . called Canadian golden-rod, with its tall, 

 stout stem, pointed, sharply toothed leaves 

 and short ray-flowers is one of the com- 

 monest varieties. 



The lance-leaved species is seldom rec- 

 ognized as a member of the tribe because 

 of its flat-topped clusters, which form a 

 striking contrast to the slender, wand-like 

 racemes which usually characterize the 

 ii6 



