PLANTS OF BERMUDA. 39 



and b}^ acting as a paracliute transports the seeds to a distance ; or 

 it may be rough and barbed, as in Bidensy wlien by adhering* to 

 passing animals, l^'C, it eifects the same xnirx)ose. 



This is the largest order of flowering plants, containing 8,000 or 

 9,000 species : they are easily recognized by tlie ari-angement of the 

 flowers in heads and united anthers. As a rule the Composite are 

 not handsome, neither do they furnish many useful products ; 

 varieties of the Lettuce {Lactuca sativa) are grown through all the 

 cooler months, while the Artichoke {Gynara Scolymnis), a conspicuous 

 plant with large, deeply x^innatifid, silvery leaves, is occasionally 

 cultivated ; the part eaten is the fleshy receptacle at the base of the 

 purple florets. 



Around most country cottages will be noticed the feather-like 

 leaf of the Tansy {Tanavetnm vuhjarc)^ much prized by the natives as 

 a tonic and stomachic ; and less frequently the Feverfew {Vyrelhram 

 2)avthenium). 



The Composite are not regarded with much favour in the flower 

 gardens, those most frequently cultivated being pmple and white 

 varieties of Chrysanthemum {O. Sinefisc), star-like Asters and man}'- 

 coloured Zinnias, while Gazanias, Ox-eye Daisies and French Mari- 

 golds receive also a share of attention. 



Section L — Heads conslstiny entirely of tubular Jlorets ; w only the 

 outer series, or ray, Uyulatc. 



A. Eupaioriacece , Heads discoid, ^florets all tulndar ; branches of style 

 elongate, bluntly cUih-shapcd, minutely puhcsccnt ; anthers not tailed. 



I. EUrARTOmUM. 



Heads few -Jlou.-ered ; bracts imbricate ; fruit ftve-anyled. 



1. E. feniculaceum (Dog Fennel). A tall, annual plant, with fen- 

 nel-like leaves ; stem four to six feet high, smooth, much branched ; 

 leaves alternate pinnately divided into innumerable slender seg- 

 ments, uppef- fasicled. Heads very numerous, small, four to five 

 flowered, in a compound pyramidal x)anicle ; bracts in two series, 

 three outer minute, five inner large, oblong with a sharp point ; 

 pax)pu3 a single scries of slender hairs ; style arms long. Distribu- 

 tion, Southern United States ; habitat, moist plaees near marshes, 

 «S:c. Heads dirty white, one-tenth of an inch diameter ; August 

 and September. 



Y,. Asteroid(C. Heads usually radiate; bracts equal or imbricate, 

 finally rejlexed, exposing the flat, naked receptacle ; fords of disk tubular, 

 perfect; ray florets ligulate, female or neuter; style arms flai, narrou>, 

 pubescent at the conical tip only ; leaves alter )iate. 



II. ASTER. 



Heads many -flowered ; disk florets yellow; ray florets usually few, in 

 onerow, purple or white ; bracts imbricated ; receptacle flat, honey -combed ; 

 pappus simple^ rough, ^ 



