FLORICULTURE. 367 



baphus nictagineus and O. hirsutus), grow on dry banks, and open their 

 flowers late in the day like the Four-o'clock of the gardens. Apocynum 

 cannabium, Indian Hemp, grows on rich prairies everywhere, as well as 

 several species of Milkweed. The common Milkweed (Asclepias cornuti), 

 is the species found in rich valleys, commonly near timber, while Ascle- 

 pias speciosa, with its larger and more beautiful flowers, is more of a 

 prairie species. A much smaller Milkweed, to be met with on high rolling 

 prairies, is Asclepias ovali folia, while the Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias in- 

 carnata) grows in wet places everywhere. The Whorled Milkweed (Ascle- 

 pias verticiliata), with its narrow leaves and interesting flowers, is com- 

 mon on dry bluffs, while the Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) is quite 

 rare. Two green Milkweeds, (A cerates viridiflora and Acerates) lanuginosa, 

 are frequent on dry bluflfs. 



In July, too, the advance pickets of the great troop of Compositas, that 

 is to dominate the autumnal flora, begin to appear. Early in the month 

 the purple Cone-flower (Echinacea angustifolia), with its purple disk and 

 long pink rays, blooms on the dryest prairies. Early travelers in these 

 regions learned from the Indians to dig and chew its pepperish root as an 

 antidote to thirst. The Ox-eye (Heliopsis scabra) is the forerunner of the 

 Sun-flowers of the autumn. The Cup-plant (Sylphium perfoliatum), with 

 its square stem and broad united leaves, blooms on rich ground, while 

 Lepachys columnaris, with its long columnar disk and yellow or varie- 

 gated rays, is found on dry ridges. In dry fields a wild Coreopsis (Coreop- 

 sis palmata) grows, and, on dry bluffs and sandy fields the almost leafless 

 Lygodesmia juncea is found. In some sandy fields it is becoming a 

 troublesome weed: ♦ 



When the purple Iron-weed (Veronia fasciculata) begins to bloom on 

 low grounds, the Composita? may fairly be said to have the field. The 

 Blazing-stars swing forth their-gorgeous purple banners, Liatris punctata 

 taking the lead, followed closely by Liatris scariosa, Liatris pjxno- 

 stachya blooms a little later on low ground. On low grounds, too, the 

 aster-like Boltonia blooms, sometimes covering large areas with its aster- 

 like flowers. It is a robust, thrifty plant, much appreciated by the land- 

 scape gardeners of the East. The cream-colored Kuhnia blooms on dry 

 banks and ridges, and with it the first Golden-rod of the season, Solidago 

 Missouriensis. By the middle of August.a prairie Sunflower, Helianthus 

 rigidus, is blooming everywhere on dry ground. This sunflower persists 

 as a weed in wheat fields, and is often called Rosin-weed. A little later 

 in the season Maximilian's Sunflower (Helianthus Maxiipiliani) the most 

 characteristic sunflower of the prairies, is seen everywhere. Growing. on 

 unbroken prairie sod, it is a modest and unassuming sunflower, but it is 

 so easily "improved by cultivation" that, whenever the prairie is broken 

 up, it grows with greatly increasing vigor and assumes gigantic propor- 

 tions. Specimen plants exceeding six feet in height,and a mass of bloom 

 from bottom to top, are not infrequent. 



Around old stables and on waste grounds, the Giant Rag-weed (Ambro- 

 sia trifida) grows with great luxuriance, sometimes reaching a height of 

 eight or ten feet; and with it is usually to be found a tall, broad-leaved 

 plant with inflorescence something like a Rag weed. This is Iva Xanthi- 

 folia, a weed from the far West, that does not seem to have received any 

 English name. When it does get an English name, it is quite sure to get 

 a forcible one, for it is mean enough to deserve it. 



