172 COMPOSITE. 



The Jersey Cudweed (Gr. luteo-album), lias a yellow involucre, 

 and the Alpine Cudweed has very slender stems. 



The Butter Bur family concludes the second division of the 

 Tubular group. 



Our one British species (Petasites vulgaris), with its thick 

 spikes of dingy lilac blossoms and large kidney-shaped leaves, 

 is too familiar to need description. It is the torment of the 

 farmer in wet lands, spreading over acres of ground, and 

 destroying all other vegetation. It used to be considered a 

 sovereign remedy for the plague, and called, in consequence, 

 " Plague-Flower." In memory of this custom Anne Pratt writes : 



" No gem-like eye glitters in thy pale face, 

 No rich aroma breathes from thy dull lip ; 

 Yet, Petasites, there is that in thee 

 Which calls emotion from its lurking-place. 

 There is a scene to which thou art allied 

 A room the sun scarce sees ; an atmosphere 

 Converted into poison, on the couch 

 The plague-spot marks his own." 



In the group upon which we have now to enter, the Corymb 

 group, the florets are generally of two colours ; those of the 

 centre yellow, and the rays white. There are many exceptions 

 with yellow rays, and some with purple. 



The Coltsfoot is the first family. Our one British member 

 (Tussilago farfara, jig. 6), puts up its starry, sweet-scented 

 flowers early in the spring. Each stalk is crowned by one 

 flower, with the centre and rays bright yellow. The leaves do 

 not appear for some time after. The stems are adorned with 

 pinkish scales. The Highlanders use the leaves, when dried, 

 as tinder, and a decoction of the flowers is an excellent remedy 

 for coughs. The plant is very common on moist clay lands. 



The Fleabanes are pretty, slender plants. The Canadian 

 Fleabane (Erigeron canadensis), grows abundantly upon every 

 old wall about Bath, and on rocks and walls in that neighbour- 

 hood. 



The Blue Fleabane I have never found. 



The Michaelmas Daisy (Aster tripolium), adorns the salt 



