TANACETUM. 



smallest ; and all can be originally raised from seed, and subsequently 

 multiplied by division. 



Symplocarpus foetidus. — The Skunk Cabbage of North 

 America is a goodly ornament to any largo bog, whero it grows readily 

 and for ever, forming into close and immemorial clumps. In early 

 spring, almost stemless, appear the huge stinking Arum-flowers of 

 dim and livid purplish-green. After these are gone develops the 

 splendid leafage of oval smooth leaves 2 feet high on their stalks, 

 and nearly a foot across. But be careful how you approach it un- 

 guardedly ; the plant has taken a wrinkle from the animal world ; 

 and any part of it, if scraped or bruised or otherwise annoyed, emits 

 (as its popular name forewarns) the characteristic savour of what, in 

 German, is so aptly known as the Stink-beast. 



Syneilesis aconitifolia=Senecio aconitifolius, q.v. 



Synthyris. — -This is a group of small American alpine Scrophu- 

 lariads, making tufts of neat foliage, and sending up flowers in little 

 fluffy spikes, sometimes suggesting a condensed and much more refined 

 Wulfenia with a stem of only 3 or 4 inches. All the species that are 

 worth growing thrive readily in cool rich soil, not liking a situation 

 too torrid in climates where the sun is hot in summer ; but here suc- 

 ceeding with equal heartiness, whether in sun or shade, and gladdening 

 spring with the show of their curious furry spikes. The best perhaps 

 of all, and the best known, is S. reniformis, which makes the most 

 engaging tuffets of round leaves, very dark leathery-green and scalloped 

 neatly round the edge ; among these in April springs up a profusion 

 of lovely fluffy spikes of clear violet-blue flowers. In 8. pinnatifida 

 the leaves are feathered, and the stems are taller, rising to some 8 

 inches, with dainty plumes of blue. This lives in the high rocky cool 

 places of Idaho and Wyoming ; sharing its home with S. alpina, of 

 the same rich blueness, but with elliptic little scalloped leaves. 8. 

 plantaginea has the same height as 8. pinnatifida, but blooms a month 

 later, in May, with flowers of a pinker tone of blue ; and 8. Bullii, which 

 is ugly and dull yellow, serves as a warning to the young that they 

 should not buy undescribed new Synthirids without caution. 



Tanacetum. — The Tansies are intensely aromatic-leaved Com- 

 posites with rayless heads of yellow flowers like fluffy golden buttons 

 in summer. They are easily divided and raised from seed, and thrive 



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