COMPOSITE. (COMrOSITK lAMILV.) 301 



leaves, and racemose-panicled mostly noddin^^ heads. Flowers greenish-white 

 or yellowish, often tinged with purple ; late summer and autumn. Our species 

 belong to the sul)genus Xdbalus. The original European species has soft 

 white pappus. (Name from vpr]vi]s, drooping, and 6.v0t}, blossom.) 



*■ Heads ratJier broad, 2^-3^)-J}owcred, in a rori/tnhose panicle. 



1. P. crepidinea, Micdix. Somewhat smooth ; stem stout (.5 -9"^ high), 

 bearing numerous nodding heads in loose clusters; leaves large (G- 12' long), 

 broadly triangular-ovate or halberd-form, strongly-toothed, contracted into 

 winged j)ctiok's ; pappus brown. (Nabalus, DC.) — Rich soil, Penn. and 

 western N. Y. to Minn., and southward. — Flowers cream-color. 



* * Heads narrow, 8 - Vt-Jiowered , in a lony racemc-lihe or thi/rsoid injlorescence ; 



stcmf simple ; cauline leaves sessile; pappus straiv-color. 

 -♦- Inflorescence pubescent, strict; heads nearly erect ^ 12-15-Jlowered. 



2. P. racemosa, Michx. Stem 2-.')° high, smooth and glaucous, as 

 well as tlie oval or ol)long-Ianceolate denticulate leaves; the lower tapering 

 into winged petioles (rarely cut-pinnatifid), the upper partly chusping; heads 

 iu crowded clusters; flowers purplish. (Nabalus, DC) — Plains, N. Maine to 

 N. J., Mo., and northward. — Var. PiNNAxfFiDA, Gray, the leaves all lyrately 

 pinna*ifi !. Ilackensack marshes, N. J. 



3. P. aspera, INIichx. Stem 2-4° high, rough-pubescent, as well as the 

 oval-oblong or broadly lanceolate toothed leaves ; upper leaves not clasping ; 

 heads in small clusters ; flowers larger, cream-color. (Nabalus asper, Torr. ^^ 

 Graij.) — Dry prairies and barrens, Ohio to Iowa, and southward. 



■*- -t- Whole plant (jlabrous ; heads nodding, S-\2-Jioi(:ered ; thjrse looser. 



4. P. virgata, Michx. (Slender Kattlesnake-root.) Slightly glau- 

 cous ; stem 2-4° high, prolonged into a naked and slender spiked raceme {\\- 

 2° long) ; heads clustered and mostly unilateral ; leaves lanceolate, acute, 

 closely sessile, the upper reduced to bracts, the lower toothed or pinuatifid ; 

 involucre (purplish) of about 8 scales. (Nabalus, DC.) — Sandy pine barrens, 

 N. J. to Va., and southward. 



5. P. Main6nsis, Gray. Stem 2° high, leafy; leaves as in n. 2, but the 

 radical ovate and more abruptly narrowed to the short petiole ; heads })ersist- 

 ently drooping on slender pedicels. — St. John's Kiver, N. INIaine (PringU). 

 Perhaps a hybrid between n. 2 and 7. 



* * * Heads 5-\8-Jlon:cred, UKcmose or pan'culate, commonly pendulous; 

 leaves variable, mostly petiolate, the lower cordate or truncate or hastate at base. 



■t- Involucre cylindrical ; scales scarious-margined , the outer very short, apprcssed. 

 •M- Pappus reddish-brown ; stem tall, generally juirplish. 



0. P. alba, L. (White Lettuce. Ratteesxake-root.) Smooth and 

 glaucous (2-4° high) ; stem corymbose-panicled at the summit; leaves angu- 

 late or triangular-halberd-form, sinuate-toothed or 3 - .'j-tdeft, the upi)ermost 

 oblong and undivided; involucre (purplish) of al)out 8 scales, 8- 12-flowered. 

 (Nabalus, Hook.) — Borders of rich woodsj common, especially northward. 

 ++ ++ P(tp])us dirty straw-color or whitish; leaves very variable. 



7. P. serpent^ria, Pursh. (Lion's-foot. Gall-of-the-earth.) Nearly 

 smooth; stem corymbose-panicled at the summit, commonly 2° high; leaves 



