mostly in two rows (sometimes one or three), not herbaceous, nearly 

 equal in length, rather loose, and only slightly overlapping. The 

 stems are leafy; the leaves alternate and entire, toothed, lobed, or 

 divided. The fruits, or "seeds" (achenes) are usually flattened, 

 mostly two-nerved, and crowned by slender white bristles. 



Many species of western range plants, particularly asters, are 

 sometimes confused with the wild-daisies, the flower heads of asters 

 being similar to those of wild-daisies. In asters, however, the flower 

 stalks tend to be somewhat coarser, less naked, and more leafy at 

 the top than those of the wild-daisies ; their disk flowers turn reddish 

 or brownish in drying, and their heads are generally somewhat more 

 numerous. Moreover, the bracts surrounding the base of aster 

 flower heads are usually in rows, strongly graduated, overlapping, 

 somewhat herbaceous, and rather numerous and the petallike, mar- 

 ginal, strap-shaped flowers (rays, or ligules) are much broader and 

 fewer than in typical species of Emgeron. In view of these differ- 

 ences, most asters and wild-daisies are easily distinguished from each 

 other but, in a few cases, it is sometimes necessary to examine the 

 tips (stigmas) of the threadlike stalks (styles) of the seed-produc- 

 ing organ (ovary) and the brush of hairs (pappus) on the tips of 

 the seedlike fruits for additional confirmation of identity. The 

 stigmas in Aster tend to be narrow and sharp-pointed, rather than 

 broad and blunt, as in Erigeron. The pappus on Aster fruits is 

 simple and copious; that of Erigeron is often double (with a short 

 outer series) and is more scanty and fragile. 



Many of the wild-daisies bear attractive flower heads and several 

 species are grown as ornamentals both at home and abroad. At least 

 two of these species, Oregon wild-daisy (E, specio'sus], and smooth- 

 wild-daisy (E. gldbel'lus], are native to the West. Oregon wild- 

 daisy has more or less woody stems from 12 to 24 inches high, with 

 narrowly reverse-lance-shaped, stalkless stem leaves almost to the 

 top, and fairly large heads of violet ray flowers. Smooth wild- 

 daisy is a perennial with stems from 6 to 20 inches high, narrow 

 leaves, and one to three large heads with violet-purple or white ray 

 flowers. Various other western species are cultivated. 



Some of the wild-daisies reputedly have remarkable medicinal properties 

 and are under suspicion as poisonous to livestock. Outstanding among these 

 species is horseweed (E. canaden'sis, syn. Lep'tilon canaden'se), so called 

 probably because of its. common occurrence in horse pastures. It is also 

 known as Canada fleabane and, for some unknown reason, is often misnamed 

 scabious. This annual is native to the eastern United States and is now 

 diffused almost universally. The drug obtained from this plant physiologically 

 produces smarting of the eyes, soreness of the throat, aching of the extremities, 

 and prostration. It is reputed to be a diuretic, tonic, and astringent, being 

 especially valuable in cases of chronic diarrhea, and in parturitional hemor- 

 rhage. The species is a bristly-hairy plant with erect, wandlike stems 4 to 

 12 inches high ; it has linear, entire stem leaves ; lobed basal leaves ; and 

 numerous small flower heads with very short, inconspicuous ray flowers. 

 Annual wild-daisy (E. an'nuus) and Philadelphia wild-daisy, misnamed sweet 

 scabious (E. philadel'phicus), both native and widely distributed in the 

 eastern United States, are other wild-daisies with similar properties. "These 

 plants were well known to the northern Indians by the name of Cocash or 

 Squaw-weed, as emmenagogues and diuretics." * 



1 Good, P. P. FAMILY FLORA AND MATERIA MEDICA BOTANICA. . . 2 V., illUS. Eliza- 



bethtown, N. J. 1845. 



