284 FLOWERING OF PLANTS. 



examples' of the compound flowers occur, until the latter part 

 of July and beginning of August ; this is fortunate for stu- 

 dents just commencing the analysis of plants ; were they to 

 find only the compound flowers at first, they would be discour. 

 aged in the commencement of the study ; but nature seems 

 kindly to lead them on step by step, reserving the more difficult 

 plants until they have had an opportunity of becoming familiar 

 with the easier classes. 



There is little difficulty in learning to distinguish the differ- 

 ent families of compound flowers ; as an aster from a solidago, 

 or a helianthus. But some of these families contain many 

 species ; and the chief difficulty consists not in finding the 

 genus, but in determining the species with accuracy. Indeed 

 it is not to be concealed that there is in this part of botanical 

 science some confusion among writers ; and we must not be 

 surprised if we are not always able to bring our plant exactly 

 under any species described. 



Among the fine flowers which autumn presents, are the 

 scarlet LOBKLIA, or cardinal flower; the yellow GERARDIA 

 (false fox-glove), and the noble sun-flower (HcliarTthus). The 

 modest LINN.EA borealis, so named from the great founder of 

 our present artificial system of Botany, is found in September; 

 at this time the white pond lily (NYMPILEA), one of the most 

 splendid of American flowers, is seen whitening the surface 

 of the lakes and ponds, sometimes alternating with yellow 

 water lily (NUPIIAR), a flower of less striking elegance than 

 the former, but perhaps not less curious in its form. 



Another aquatic plant, which, although it blossoms in sum- 

 mer, continues in flower until late in the autumn, istheS.viaT- 

 TARIA, or arrow-head, with a three-leaved calyx, having white 

 petals, staminate and pistillate flowers on the same root ; it be- 

 longs to the class Moncecia. The Eupatorium, or thorough- 

 wort which blossoms in autumn, has no external beauty to re- 

 commend it, but as a remedy in diseases,, perhaps no plant is 

 more useful. 



In remarking the few flowers which linger until the ap- 

 proach of winter, we see the hardy dandelion, which, although 

 one of the earliest, is also among the latest of the vegetable 

 tribes. We see among the last blossoms of the season, some 

 compound flowers which seem for a time to bear the autumnal 

 blasts, but "which gradually give way to the reign of winter, 

 leaving the desolate 'fields and meadows to present but a 

 gloomy contrast to their former verdant and glowing appear- 

 ance. 



Are they proper for first lessons in analysis Which is most difficult to as- 

 certain, the genus or species 1 Various flowers of autumn Last flowers of 

 the season. 



