COMPOUND FLOWERS. 367 



leaves, which, do not appear until the flowers have 

 withered, are roundish heart-shaped and angular, with 

 dark teeth, and are covered with cottony down. The 

 heads of flowers droop before expansion, and the stalks 

 after flowering lengthen considerably. The Goldfinch 

 frequently lines its nest with the pappus of this plant. 

 The cotton of the leaves was formerly used as tinder, 

 and the leaves themselves afford a rustic remedy for 

 coughs. Fl. March, April. Perennial. 



33. ERIGERON (Flea-lane). 



1. E. acris (Blue Flea-bane). Branches erect, rough, 

 alternate, bearing single heads ; leaves narrow, entire, 

 blunt. Dry places and walls, not common. A much 

 branched plant, 6 18 inches high, with small heads of 

 inconspicuous flowers, of which the inner florets are 

 yellowish, the outer dull blue. The pappus is very 

 long and tawny. Fl. August. Biennial. 



* E. alpinus (Alpine Flea-bane) occurs on the High- 

 land mountains, growing 3 5 inches high, each stem 

 bearing a single flower, the outer florets of which are 

 light purple ; E. Canademis (Canada Flea-bane) grows 

 as a weed in waste ground and on old walls about 

 Chelsea and elsewhere ; it has somewhat of the habit 

 of Groundsel, and bears small heads of dingy yellow 

 flowers. 



34. ASTER (Starwort). 



1. A. Tripolium (Sea Starwort). The only British 

 species, abundant in salt marshes and on sea-cliffs. A 

 stout succulent plant, 2 3 feet high, with long, smooth, 

 fleshy leaves, and corymbs of large handsome heads of 

 flowers, the inner florets of which are yellow, the outer 

 purple. In salt marshes the whole plant is often covered 

 with mud, which gives it an unsightly appearance, but 



