238 COMPOSITE. (COMPOSITE FAMILY.) 



# Involucre smooth or nearly so, 5 - \2-flowered. 



1. IV. :tlhus Hook. (WHITE LETTUCE. RATTLKSXAKK-KOOT.) 



Smooth and glancotu ('1 4 high); stem corymbose-panicled at tin', summit: 

 leaves annulate or triangular-halberd-form, sinuate-toothed, 01 3-5-eleft; tlia 

 uppermost oblong and undivided; involucre (purplish) of about 8 scales, 8-12- 

 floivered; p<ij>j>ns di-ep cinnamon-color. Var. SERPENT\RIA is a form with deep- 

 ly divided leaves, their margins often rough-ciliate. Borders of woods, in rich 

 soil ; common, especially northward. Aug. Stouter and more corymbed than 

 the next, with thickish leaves and often purplish branches. Heads |' long. 



2. N. altissimus, Hook. (TALL WHITE LETTUCE.) Smooth; stem 

 tall and slender (3 -6 high) ; the heads in small axillary and terminal loose 

 clusters forming a long and tcand-like leafy panicle ; leaves membranaceous, all 

 petiolcd, ovate, heart-shaped or triangular, and merely toothed or cleft, with 

 naked or winged petioles, or frecpucntly 3-5-partcd, with the divisions entire or 

 again cleft; involucre slender (greenish), of 5 scales, 5-Q-JJoiceral ; pappus dirty 

 white, or pale straw-color. Rich moist woods ; common, especially northward. 

 Aug., Sept. 



3. IV. Fraseri, DC. (LION'S-FOOT. GALL-OF-TIIE-EARTH.) Nearly 

 smooth ; stem corymbose-panicled at the summit (l-4 high) ; leaves mostly del- 

 toid, roughish ; the lower variously 3 - 7-lobed, on margined petioles ; the upper 

 oblong-lanceolate, mostly undivided, nearly sessile ; involucre (greenish or pur- 

 plish, sometimes slightly bristly) of about 8 scales, 8- 12-Jloin-n d ; pa/>j>us dull 

 straw-color. Varies greatly in foliage: the var. iNTEGRiFftLius has the thick- 

 ish leaves all undivided and merely toothed. Dry sandy or sterile soil, S. New 

 England to Virginia and southward. Sept. 



4. IV. iifemis, DC. Smooth; stem low and simple. (5'- 10' high); the 

 heads in axillary clusters forming a narrow racemed panicle; leaves triangular- 

 halberd-shaped and very variously lobcd or cleft, on slender petioles ; involucre 

 (livid) 10- 13-flowered, of about 8 proper scales and several very short bract-like oneSj 

 which are triangular-ovate and appressed ; pappus dark straw-color. Alpine 

 summits of the"White Mountains of New Hampshire, and Mount Marcy, New 

 York. Aug. - Oct. 



5. IV. Bortttii, DC. Sft-m simple, dicarf (& - 6' high), pubescent at the 

 summit; the heads in an almost simple raceme ; lowest leaves halberd-shaped 

 or heart-shaped, the middle oblong, the upper lanceolate, nearly entire, tapering 

 into a margined petiole; involncn: (livid) 10- 18-Jloivercd, of 10- 15 very obtuse 

 pmpi r nooks, and s< n r<d liimir and loose erterior ones nearly half tin /tin/fh of the 

 former; pappus straw-color. Higher alpine summits of the mountains of 

 Maine, New Hampshire, and N. New York. Aug. 



6. IV. virgutllS, DC. (SLENDER RATTLKSNAKK-UOOT.) Smooth, 

 slightly glaucous ; stem vert/ simple (2 -4 high); product <} <//,/-, intit a naked 

 and slrmlt r nj-i/.-nl ra<-< me (l^-2 long), the heads clustered and mostly unilat- 

 eral ; leaves lanceolate, acute, closely sessile, the upper reduced to bracts, the 

 lower toothed or pinnatilid ; involucre (purplish) of about 8 scales, 8-12 : /7o, 

 pappus st raw-color. Sandy pine barrens, New Jersey to Virginia, and south- 

 ward Sept. 



