COMPOSITAE 133 



2 1. Scales with spreading herbaceous tips; heads in a leafy interrupted compound 

 spike. [CHRYSASTRCM. Torr. < Gray.] 



1. S. squarrosa, Muhl. Stem stout, striate, smooth below, pu- 

 bescent above ; leaves lance-oblong, the lower ones spatulate-oval, 

 serrate ; heads many-flowered. 

 SQUARROSE SOLIDAGO. 



Stem 2 to 4 feet high, simple. Radical leaves 3 to 6 inches long, contracted to a 

 margined petiole 2 to 4 inches in length; stem-leaves gradually smaller; all sub- 

 coriaceous, scabrous on the margin. Heads of flowers rather large, in dense axil- 

 lary clusters, forming a leafy spike ; involucre puberulent ; scales oblong, minutely 

 lacerate-ciliate, with the apex spreading or reflexed; rays rather long; akenes 

 smooth. 

 Hob. Along Schuylkill : not common. Fl. Aug. Fr. Octo. 



2. Scales without herbaceous tips. [VIRGAUREA, Ifarnef.] 

 f Racemes short, dense, terminal, or closely axillary. 



"2. S. biCOlor, L. Hairy and greyish ; leaves lance-oval, the 



lower ones serrate ; racemes terminal, rect, leafy ; rays ochroleu- 



cous. 



TWO-COLORED SOLIDAGO- 



Stem 1 to 3 feet high, mostly simple, sometimes with leafy branches at summit. 

 Radical leaves 2 to 6 inches long, often spatulate, contracted to a petiole nearly as 

 long as the leaf; stem-leaves gradually smaller and less serrate, the upper ones en- 

 tire. Heads of flowers in a compound leafy terminal raceme ; involucre smooth- 

 ish ; rays medium size ; akenes striate, sparsely pubescent, finally smooth. 

 Hob. Woods, clearings, and low grounds : frequent. Fl. Aug. Fr. Octo. 



3. S. lalHYilia, L. Smoothish; stem angular, flexuose; leaves 

 broadly oval, acuminate at each end, coarsely and sharply serrate ; 

 racemes axillary, oblong. 



S. flexicaulis, var. latifolia. Fl. Cestr. ed. 2. p. 460. 

 BROAD-LEAVED SOUDAGO. 



Stem 18 inches to 3 feet high, simple, often flexuose. Leaves 3 or 4 inches long, 

 conspicuously acuminate, and almost laciniately serrate, abruptly narrowed to a 

 tapering margined petiole about as long as the acnmination at apex. Heads cf 

 flowers in short racemose axillary clusters; involucre smooth; akenes hairy. 

 Hob. Rich woodlands: frequent Fl. Septem. Fr. Octo. 



Obs. The S. flexicaulis, L. has been partly referred to S. caesia, 

 while the var. latifolia is admitted to the rank of a species, which 

 may be readily known by its remarkable leaves. 



4. S. cassia, L. Smooth; stem terete, purple and glaucous; 

 leaves oblong-lanceolate, irregularly serrate; racemes axillary, sub- 

 globose. 



GREY-BLUE SOLIDAGO. Golden Rod. 



Stem 1 to 2 or 3 feet high, slender, simple, or sometimes considerably branched* 

 Leaves 2 to 3 or 4 inches long, scabrous on the margin. Heads of flowers in nu- 

 merous axillary and mostly subglobose clusters ; involucre smoothish ; akenes 

 pubescent. 

 Hob. Rich woodlands, and thickets: frequent. Fl. Septem. Fr. Octo. 



Obs. The Solidaaines are all known, more or less, by the name of 

 Golden rod; but this species is so called by way of eminence, in 



