314 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



A common plant, often present as a weed in fields and meadows, 

 throughout nearly the entire United States and Canada, except the extreme 

 north. Flowering in July and August. 



The dry, chaffy character of the involucres of the heads suggests the 

 appropriate name of Everlasting. Clusters may be gathered and placed in 

 a vase or other receptacle without water and kept for an indefinite period. 

 They are sometimes subjected to various dyes but it is doubtful if this adds 

 anything to their attractiveness. In florists' shops they are frequently 

 seen dyed a brilliant red or blue. 



Elecampane; Horseheal 



Inula helenium Linnaeus 



Plate 250 



A large, woolly, perennial herb, with a stout, thick mucilaginous root. 

 Sterns stout, usually unbranched, 2 to 6 feet high and densely woolly- 

 pubescent. Leaves alternate, rough-hairy above, densely woolly on the 

 under surface; basal leaves large, 10 to 20 inches long, 4 to 8 inches wide, 

 narrowed into long petioles; upper leaves sessile or clasping the stem by a 

 heart-shaped base, smaller than the basal leaves. Heads of flowers large 

 and showy, 2 to 4 inches broad, yellow, terminal on stout peduncles, the 

 inflorescence consisting of few or several heads. Involucres hemispheric, 

 nearly an inch high, their outer bracts large and almost leaflike in character. 

 Ray flowers numerous, linear, i to i^ inches long, yellow; the disk flowers 

 dingy yellow or brownish. 



Along roadsides and in fields, Nova Scotia to Ontario and Minnesota, 

 south to North Carolina and Missouri. Flowering from July to September. 

 Native of Europe and naturalized in this country. 



Cup Plant; Indian Cup 



Silphium perfoliatum Linnaeus 



Plate 251 



A tall, perennial herb, with resinous juice. Stem usually smooth, 

 square, branched above, 4 to 8 feet high. Leaves opposite, ovate or 



