COMPOSITE. (COMPOSITE FAMILY.) 207 



Pappus clear white (except in one Mulgedium). 



Acheuia conspicuously beaked. No. 



Achenia ribbed. Stemless herbs TARAXACUM. 94 



Acheniaflat. Stems leafy LACTUCA. 90 



Achenia beakless or nearly so. 



Flowers blue. Acheuia slightly beaked MULGEDIUM. 90 



Flowers yellow. Achenia beakless SONCHUS. 97 



SUBORDER I. TUBULIFJLORJE. 



TRIBE I. VERNONIACE^E. Heads discoid; the flowers all tubular and 

 perfect: branches of the style terete, filiform, hairy all over; the stigmatic 

 lines only on the lower part. Herbs, with alternate leaves and purple 

 flowers. 



1. VERNONIA, Schreb. IRON-WEED. 



Heads many-flowered, the flowers all equal and tubular. Involucre shorter 

 than the flowers ; the scales closely imbricated in several rows. Receptacle 

 naked. Achenia cylindrical, ribbed. Pappus double; the exterior consisting 

 of very short scale-like bristles, the interior of copious capillary bristles. 

 Perennial herbs, with alternate leaves, and corymbose purple flowers. 



1. V. oligophylla, Michx. Stem nearly naked; leaves rough above, 

 pubescent beneath, denticulate ; those at the base large, oval or oblong, the 

 others small, distant, lanceolate ; corymb few-flowered, spreading ; involucre 

 bell shaped, the scales lanceolate, acuminate, fringed. Damp pine barrens. 

 Julv. Stem 2 high, sparingly branched. 



2. V. Noveboracensis, Willd. Stem more or less pubescent, branched 

 above; leaves lanceolate, serrate, mostly roughish above, smooth or pubescent 

 beneath ; corymbs spreading ; involucre hemispherical, the scales fringed, 

 ovate, ending in a long filiform point, or simply acute. River banks and 

 low ground. July - Sept. Stem 3 - 6 high. Scales of the involucre 

 purple, and usually covered with web-like hairs. 



Var. latif olia, Gray. Stem 2 - 3 liign ; lower leaves oval or oblong, 

 coarsely serrate, paler beneath, the upper lanceolate, entire ; scales of the 

 involucre fringed, acute. Dry woodlands, Georgia and Florida. July. 



3. V. Baldwin!!, Torr. Tomentose; stem 2 -3 high ; leaves ovate- 

 lanceolate, acuminate, serrulate; heads rather small and crowded, globose, 

 canescent ; scales of the involucre appressed, with spreading or recurved tips; 

 acheuia pubescent. W. Tennessee (Gatfhu/er), and westward. 



4. V. altissima, Nntt. Stem 4 -10 high, smooth; leaves lanceolate 

 or oblong, the lower coarsely serrate, mostly glabrous ; corymbs spreading; 

 heads scattered, the scales smooth, obtuse, appressed ; achenia slightlv hispid. 

 Low ground, chiefly in the upper districts. July- August. 



5. V. fasciculata, Michx Stem slender, smooth, 2-5 high, very 

 leafy ; leaves linear-lanceolate, varying to oblong, acuminate, smooth above, 

 puncticulate ; heads crowded ; scales of the involucre downy on the margins, 

 acute ; achenia smooth. River banks, Tennessee, and westward. August. 



