258 COMPOSITE FAMILY. 



ing into 2-7 slender peduncles bearing small about 20-flowered heads ; 

 akenes linear. N., S. to Ga. 



H. scabrum, Michx. Roughish-hairy, with rather stout simple stem 

 (2-3 high), bearing obovate or oval nearly entire leaves, and a narrow 

 panicle of many small heads, the 40-50-flowered involucre and stiff 

 peduncles thickly beset with dark glandular bristles. N., S. to Ga. 



++ ++ Akenes tapering at the top ; panicle narrow or virgate. 



H. longipilum, Torr. So named from the exceedingly long (often 1') 

 straight bristly hairs of the stem ; leaves narrow-oblong, entire ; panicle 

 and 20-30-flowered involucre between the last and the next. Mich., W. 

 and S. 



H. Grondvii, Linn. Stems slender, leafy, and very hairy below; 

 leaves oblong or obovate ; heads small ; slender peduncles and 20-30- 

 flowered involucre sparingly glandular-bristly. N. and S. 



75. PRENANTHES (or NABALUS), RATTLESNAKE ROOT. 

 (Greek : drooping blossom.) 



* Peduncles and I2-Q-flowered heads hairy. 



P. racemdsa, Michx. Smooth wand-like stem 2-5 high ; leaves 

 lance-oblong, slightly toothed, the upper ones partly clasping ; narrow 

 spiked panicle of about 12-flowered heads. N. 



P. dspera, Michx. Similar, but rough-pubescent, the upper leaves 

 not clasping and the 12-14-flowered heads mostly erect and larger. Ohio, 

 W. and S. 



P. crepidinea, Michx. Smoother, with stout stem 5-8 high, wide- 

 corymbed panicles of 20-40-flowered heads, brown pappus, and broad 

 leaves 6'-12' long on winged petioles. Penn., W. and S. 



* * Peduncles and 5-12-flowered heads smooth ; leaves very variable. 



P. altissima, Linn. TALL R. or WHITE LETTUCE. Rich woods N., 

 3-6 high, with long and narrow leafy panicle, petioled leaves inclined 

 to be ovate-triangular ; heads 5-6-flowered ; pappus dirty white. 



P. alba, Linn. COMMON WHITE LETTUCE, in open woods, chiefly N. 

 and W. ; glaucous, with more corymbed panicles of 8-12-flowered heads, 

 usually more cut or divided leaves, and cinnamon-colored pappus. 



P. serpentaria, Pursh. LION'S FOOT, or GALL OF THE EARTH. Com- 

 monest in dry soil E. and S. ; l-4 high, with narrow-corymbed panicles 

 of 8-12-flowered heads, and pappus dull straw-color. 



76. FYRRHOPAFPUS, FALSE DANDELION. (Greek: flame- 

 colored pappus ; this and the leafy stems distinguish this genus from 

 the next.) () (2) 



P. Carolinianus, DC. l-2 high, with oblong or lanceolate leaves 

 often pinnatifid or cut, the upper partly clasping ; flowers spring and 

 summer. Sandy fields from Md., S. 



77. TARAXACUM, DANDELION. (Greek name referring to medici- 

 nal properties of the root.) (f) 11 (Lessons, Fig. 384.) 



T. officindle, Weber. COMMON D. In all fields, from spring to autumn. 

 Inner involucre closes after blossoming till the akenes mature and the 

 beak lengthens and elevates the pappus ; then the involucre is reflexed, 

 the pappus spreads, and with the fruit is blown away by the wind. Very 

 variable. Eu, 



