122 VERNONIA NOVEBORACENSIS. IRON-WEED; FLAT-TOP. 



Those who, as cultivators, have become acquainted with the 

 habits and strength of the plant, cannot but admit the justice of 

 the remarks just quoted ; while at the same time they will be 

 sorry that it is so, if they are not cultivators only, but lovers 

 and admirers of beautiful flowers also. For, looked at simply 

 as a wild flower, the Iron- Weed is sure to commend itself to 

 our attention; and in foreign countries, where it has been in- 

 troduced by gardeners, it is esteemed as a pretty, ornamental 

 flower. Mr. Robinson, who includes it in his work on beautiful 

 " Hardy Flowers " for English gardens, says it grows very large 

 and vigorous there, often attaining a height of from five to eight 

 feet, and is valuable "for naturalization amongst the tallest per- 

 ennials in any soil." Truly, our plant might say that a prophet 

 is not recognized in his own country, for, being so common with 

 us, it is looked upon with disdain by our cultivators. Still there 

 might be discovered varieties of color or of habit worthy of the 

 gardener's attention, for the plant shows a disposition to vary 

 in almost all locations. It is not uncommon to find specimens 

 with the flowers of a much darker purple than those shown on 

 our plate, and the writer was informed by Mrs. E. S, Cox, the 

 wife of the distinguished state geologist of Indiana, that she 

 had found a white variety. Mr. G. C. Brodhead, in the second 

 volume of the "American Naturalist," also records the finding 

 of a similar form. 



The chief beauty of our plant is, however, derived from its 

 pleasing color. It is not, indeed, without artistic interest in its 

 o-eneral arranofement, but it must nevertheless be confessed that 

 an analysis, according to the rules of beauty, does not develop 

 very striking results ; and the whole panicle, more especially, 

 is so irregular as to defy all rule. Sometimes the pedicel or 

 flower-stalk is long, and bears only a single flower; at other 

 times another flower with a short stalk, or even stalkless, shares 

 the branch. The leaves, although alternate on the main stem, 

 are occasionally opposite on the upper portion, as shown on our 

 plate. The branches of the fascicle often have a strong hori- 



