1 88 Stibtropical Gardening. 



flower-heads are of a greenish-yellow, on short stalks, in a 

 close, forking corymb. A variety (S. lave) has the leaves 

 and stem smooth, or nearly so. This and the following 

 kinds are only suited for the rougher parts of the pleasure- 

 ground, and by wood-walks, etc. ; they will be seen to 

 greatest advantage in rich and deep soil, but will grow in 

 any kind. Division. N. America. 



*Silphium laciniatum (Compass-plant). — A vigor- 

 ous perennial with a stout, round stem, often upwards of 

 8 ft. in height. The leaves, which are collected chiefly 

 about the base of the plant, are large, wrinkled, and deeply- 

 divided into lance-shaped, pointed segments, and fringed 

 with white hairs. The stem-leaves are few, much smaller, 

 and opposite. Flowers of a fine yellow with a brownish 

 centre, in large, few, solitary, short-stalked, horizontal or 

 drooping heads, which have the peculiarity of facing to 

 the east. Division. N. America. 



*Silphium perfoliatum (Cup-plant). — A robust- 

 growing North American perennial from 4 ft. to 8 ft. in 

 height, with a square stem and broad, opposite, oval, 

 lance-shaped, coarsely toothed leaves, 6 ins. to 15 ins. long, 

 rough on both sides, the upper ones united at their bases ; 

 the lower ones abruptly narrowed into winged leaf-stalks, 

 which are also united at their bases. Flower-heads about 

 2 ins. across, with a greenish-yellow disk and a yellow ray. . 

 Does best in a deep, free, well-drained, sandy soil, but 

 will grow well when the ground is slightly moist, espe- 

 cially in warm, but not too shady, positions. Division. 



*Silphium terebinthinaceum (Prairie- Dock). — A 

 large kind with smooth slender stems from 4 ft. to 10 ft. 

 high, panicled at the summit, and bearing many small 



