1Y8 CLASS SYNGENESIA. 



8d. Florets tulidous, witliont rays ; as boneset or thorongli 

 wort {jEi(2?atorium). 



262. Order Stqjerjlua. — ^The second Order presents us with 

 sncli syngeiiesious flowers as liave the florets of the disk j^er- 

 fect^ and those of the fay on\j j?istillate, each pistil producing 

 a perfect seed. The pistils in the ray, being unaccompanied 

 with stamens, are considered as suj>erJluous. 



This order is divided into two sections. 1st. Flowers with- 

 out rays, or the ray florets indistinct ; here we find the tansy 

 and the life-everlasting. The Aetemisia, a genus which in- 

 cludes the wormwood and southern-wood, both exotics, has but 

 few native species. The name Artemisia is often improperly 

 given to an ornamental plant which belongs to the genus Chry- 

 santhemum. " The genus Artemisia was named in honor of 

 Artemis, the Avife of Mausolus, whose monument was one of 

 the wonders of the world (hence our word Mausoleum). Pliny 

 observes, that women have had, also, the glory of giving names 

 to plants."^ 2d. Flowers with ligulate petals forming rays, the 

 receptacle being naked, as may be seen on the dandelion after 

 the petals have fallen oft'. The Aster genus contains numerous 

 species which blossom late in the summer and autumn. Many 

 of these species are highly beautiful, presenting a great variety 

 of rich and delicate coloring, from the dark blue, purple, and 

 red, to pale blue, light violet, and pink, and in many cases pure 

 white. In some the yellow prevails ; sometimes they are varie- 

 gated, and often the disk and ray are of difterent colors. After 

 having once become familiar with the Aster genus it is easy to 

 distinguish it, though often diflicult to determine the species ; but 

 comparison and research strengthen the mind, and the greater the 

 difficulties overcome, the greater will be the mental advantage. 

 K"early allied to the aster is Chrysopsis, with corymbs and yellow 

 flowers. In this class and order is found the African marigold 

 (Tagetes), a Mexican genus ; two species are distinguished by 

 five permanent florets in the ray. The Zmnia has much the 

 look of Tagetes, but has an imbricated, round-scaled calyx, and 

 five or more remarkably persistent, broad rays. The golden-rod 

 (SoLiDAGo) consists of many species ; in some, the flowers are 

 arranged in one-sided racemes, in others they form small and 

 irregular clusters. The species are in many cases faintly dis- 

 tinguished. The genus Chrysanthemum contains the common 

 daisy, sometimes called ox-eye ; it also includes many splendid 

 foreign plants, mostly of Chinese origin. The Dahlia is at 

 present a favorite with florists who enumerate many splendid 

 varieties. 



* Thornton's British Flora. 



2G2. Order Superflna, how divided 1— 1st sectioa— Artemisia— 2d sectiou— Aster— Golden-rod— 

 Chrysantbemuni— Dahlia. 



