140 THE ROBIN'S PLANTAIN. 



The Record. Find in the Appendix a tablet and record 

 of Antennaria, which will serve as a model for other plants of 

 this order. 



Scientific Terms. Dioecious. Exserted. Fertile. Florets. Im- 

 bricated. Ovary Abortive. Pappus. Pistillate. Receptacle. Receptacle 

 naked. Scales. Scarious. Scape-like. Spatulate. Staminate. Sterile. 



XXXVI. THE ROBIN'S PLANTAIN. 



Description. The groves and orchards are already 

 vocal with the song of the Robin when the meadows and 

 copses are first bedecked with the blue rays of Robin's Plan- 

 tain. In Florida beginning to flower in March, its bloom 

 progresses northward to Virginia in April, to New York in 

 May, and to Canada in June, coeval with Bulbous Crowfoot, 

 Rue Anemone, and Hood-leaved Violet. 



Analysis. THE LEAF REGION. Having collected an 

 ample supply of specimens both with flowers in fresh bloom 

 and others well advanced towards fruit, the student will 

 answer inquiries like the following : What of the x life and 

 form of the root ? The quality of surface or the clothing of 

 the plant ? The form, stature, and attitude of the stem ? 

 The position, arrangement, margin and venation of the 

 leaves ? The leaves, as to outline, are not uniform. The 

 radical are oblong -spatulate with the base narrowed toward 

 a petiole and a few teeth above. The cauline are lanceolate- 

 oblong, mostly entire, and with a broad-clasping base. 



THE FLOWER REGION. The Inflorescence is like 

 Antennaria, but more open and corymbous (like a corymb, 

 or a level-topped cluster). A few heads terminate the stem 

 and branches. The first to flower is the one at the top of 

 the stem, next that of the highest branch, and so on to the 

 lower or outer. Thus the general inflorescence is centrifu- 

 gal ; but regarding each head singly, centripetal. 



