GAULTHERIA. 147 



tJnited States. Conspicuous among them are the autumnal hosts of 

 blue and white Asters and yellow Goldenrods {Soliddgo), the troops of 

 Sunflowers {Helidnthm) and the armies of Thistles {Cnicus). Our 

 Composites are nearly all herbs ; in Chili, they are mostly bushes ; in 

 the Island of St. Helena, they are trees. 



Compared with its vast extent, the useful products of this Order 

 are few and unimportant. Lettuce is the herbage of Lactuca 

 saliva. Salsify is the root of Trngopdgon porrifolius. Chickory, used 

 with CofEee, is the roasted root of Cichdrium Intyhus. Saffron, a 

 yellow dye, is the dried flowers of Cdrthamus tinctdrius. Camomile 

 {Anthemis noUlis), Elecampane {Inilla), Arnica {A. montdnd), are pop- 

 ular remedies. The well-known Persian Insect Powder is the dried 

 and pulverized heads of Chrysdnthemum rhseum. Wormwood, used in 

 making the French liquor absinthe, is a species of Artemisia. 



In the flower garden this great Order is also well represented by the 

 showy China Asters, Zinnias, and Dahlias, which sport into varieties 

 infinite. The Feverfue {Parthenium), the Marigolds (Tagetes) and 

 Coreopsis, are old favorites. The Everlastings or Immortelles are 

 becoming common. Last, but not least, the lovely Chrysdnthema, in 

 purple, yellow, and glowing white, when all other leaves are falling 

 and other flowers are dead.* 



Scientific Terms. — Acaulescent. Achenium or Cypsela beaked. 

 Heads discoid. Heads radiant. Heads radiate. Receptacle chaffy. 

 Receptacle naked. Runcinate, 



XXXVm. THE CHECKERBERRY. 



Description. — The many names of this little plant, as 

 with the Garden Violet, is a proof of its popularity. In dif- 

 ferent places it is known as Checkerberry, Boxberry, Tea- 

 berry, Ivory Plum, Partridge-berry, Wintergreen. f The 



* "And it is told in !*tories old that this fair blossom first 



On that blest morn, when Christ was born, into w^iife beauty burst. 

 Perhaps— ah 1 well, we cainiot tell if truly it be so ; 

 T but repeat the lejiend sweet, and only this I know- 

 That in the prime of Christmas-time the Christ's sweet flowers blow." 

 + We adopt the first-mentioned name, for so it was known to our childhood. But 

 since these appellations are" merely local, and some of thorn an- equally applied to 

 other plants, the necessity of an invariable scientific name is manifest. 



