I20 LIATRIS SCARIOSA. BLUE BLAZING STAR. 



of view. But as showing how little there is in nature, beyond 

 the apparent permanence of these little characters, to divide one 

 genera from another, she herself takes occasion sometimes to 

 teach us. In regard to Liatris, distinguished by its naked recep- 

 tacle, Mr. N. Coleman, author of the "Catalogue of the Plants of 

 Michigan," in a private letter to the writer, dated May 7th, 1875, 

 says: "I have occasionally found long purple scales like those of 

 the involucre intermixed with the florets in LiatrisT Such 

 facts are always appreciated by the modern botanical student, 

 as they furnish the means for unlocking many of what to our 

 forefathers were the mysteries of nature, and are indeed the 

 basis of what is known in these days as the doctrine of evolu- 

 tion. 



The whole genus Liatris is a particularly handsome one, and 

 this species — the "Blue Blazing-Star," of Mrs. Lincoln's botany, 

 — is at least as handsome as any. The roundish heads of flowers 

 are large and brilliandy colored, and in many cases the involucral 

 scales have colored tips, though sometimes whitish and like mere 

 membrane, and it is from this fact that the name scariosa has 

 been given to it, this signifying a dry, chaffy condition. Michaux 

 was struck chiefly by the roundish heads, and describes it Liatris 

 sphcroidca, but it was described a few years before by Willde- 

 now as Z. scajnosa^'^^wA this, being the prior name, is adopted. 



Explanations OF THE Plate. — i. Upper portion of a spike, the uppermost flower opening 

 first. 2. Central portion of a leafy stem. 3. Side and back view, showing the coloreci 

 scales of the involucre. 4. Akene and pappus. 



