WILD LETTUCE 41 



interesting 



be only a weed, and nothing of the nature of 

 the transformation of ox-eye daisies into 

 marguerites will ever befall it. 



Although wild lettuceis an uncompromising 

 weed, with no beauty of flower or leaf, yet it 

 possesses some points of much interest to the 

 student of plant Hfe. ''A garden in which Even a weed 

 nothing thrives has charms that soothe the ^^^ f, 

 rich possessor," asserts Cowper; and if we 

 turn in such a spirit of expectancy" to this 

 weed tramp, although annoying us by its un- 

 welcome presence in our yards and fields, we 

 will find it to have characteristics worthy of 

 study. 



The mechanical and biological causes which 

 determine the time and manner of opening 

 and closing of the flower heads must be a fer- 

 tile subject of inquiry. The construction and 

 expansion of the airy parachute also deserves 

 attention. Numerous other things about the 

 plant may well engage the scrutin3' of the 

 careful student. 



Only one of these features need occupy us at 

 the present time, however. The species is 

 characterized in the various manuals as pos- 

 sessing vertical leaves. As nearly all plants 

 hold their leaves horizontal, i. e., with the 

 edges right and left, this peculiarity of the 

 edges of the leaves being presented up and 

 down, that is, at right angles to the custom- 



