COMPOSITE. (COMPOSITE FAMILY.) 237 



3. B. chrysanthemoid.es, Michx. Smooth ; stem erect or ascending ; 

 leaves undivided, oblong-lanceolate, obscurely serrate, connate; heads radiate, 

 showy; achenia 2 -4-awned. Wet places, Florida to Mississippi, and north- 

 ward. Sept. and Oct. (J) Stem thick, 1 - 2 high. 



* * Achenia 3 - 4-angled, linear : heads radiate : scales of the involucre nearly 

 equal. 



4. B. leucantha, Willd. Stem low, 4-angled ; leaves pinnatcly 3-5- 

 divided ; the divisions ovate or lanceolate, serrate ; the lowest ones undivided ; 

 outer scales of the involucre obtuse, spreading ; the inner ones acute ; rays 5, 

 white; achenia 2 - 4-awned. South Florida. Oct. -Dec. Stem 10' -15' 

 high. 



5. B. bipinnata, L. Stem tall, 4-angled, much branched ; leaves bipin- 

 nate, the divisions small, ovate or lanceolate, acute ; heads small ; rays 2 3, 

 yellow ; achenia 3 - 4-awned. Cultivated grounds, common. Aug. and Sept. 

 (J) Stem 2 - 5 high. 



53. SPILANTHES, Jacq. 



Heads many-flowered ; the ray-flowers often wanting. Scales of the involucre 

 in 2 rows, appressed, shorter than the disk. Keceptacle convex or elongated ; 

 the membranaceous chaff embracing the flowers. Achenia of the disk com- 

 pressed, mostly ciliate on the margins, naked at the apex, or with 1-3 bristly 

 awns ; those of the rays 3-angled. Chiefly annual and acrid herbs, with oppo- 

 site undivided leaves, and solitary heads of yellow flowers on long peduncles. 



1 . S. repens, Michx. Stem branching, slightly pubescent, decumbent and 

 rooting at the base ; leaves ovate-lanceolate or lanceolate, slightly serrate, nar- 

 rowed into a petiole ; heads small, ovoid, becoming oblong-conical ; achenia 

 awnless, not ciliate ; rays 12. (Acmella repens, Pers.) Muddy banks, Florida 

 to South Carolina. Sept. and Oct. fl.? Stem 6' -12' long. 



2. S. Nuttallii, Torr. & Gray. Villous-pubescent or smoothish ; stem 

 diffusely branched, ascending ; leaves ovate or oblong, coarsely serrate, abruptly 

 petioled ; heads ovoid, at length oblong-conical ; achenia awnless or with 1-2 

 minute awns, ciliate on the margins; rays 10-12. Inundated places, East 

 Florida. Aug. - Oct. Stem 1 - 2 long. 



54. VERBESINA, L. 



Heads many-flowered ; the ray-flowers few, sometimes wanting. Scales of the 

 involucre imbricated in 2 or more rows. Receptacle flat, or somewhat convex ; 

 the chaff concave. Achenia laterally compressed, wingless, 2-awned. Peren- 

 nial herbs. Stems mostly winged by the decurrent serrate or lobed leaves. 

 Heads corymbose. Flowers white or yellow. 



1. V. Siegesbeckia, Michx. Stem 4-winged, branching; leaves oppo- 

 site, ovate or ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, sharply serrate, 3-ribbed ; corymbs 

 trichotomous ; rays 1-5, yellow ; achenia wingless. Waste places, road-sides, 

 &c., Mississippi to North Carolina. Sept. Stem 4 - 6 high. 



