COMPOSITE FAMILY. 203 



coarsely toothed leaflets, outer involucre much longer than the head, and wed^c- 

 obovatc akenes ciliate with upturned bristles, and 2-awncd. 



B. COnnata, SWAMP B Low grounds; smooth, l-2 high, with simple 

 lanceolate and taper-pointed leaves, or the lower 3-divided and dccurrent on the 

 petiole, smaller heads, narrow wedge-shaped akenes minutely and downwardly 

 ciliate and bearing about 3 awns. 



* * Low smooth herbs, with showy golden yelloiv rays \ ' long. 



B. chrysanthemoides, LARGER BUR-MARIGOLD. Shallow water or 

 wet places, 6' -30' high, with simple lanceolate sessile serrate leaves, outer 

 involucre shorter than the rays, and wedge-shaped akenes with almost prickly 

 downwardly barbed margins and 2-4 awns. 



2. Akenes linear or needle-shaped. 



B. Beckii, WATER B. Immersed in water, N. and W., the single short- 

 peduncled heads rising above the surface, and with showy rays ; leaves cut into 

 very numerous fine hair-like divisions ; awns of the stout akenes 4 - G, barbed 

 near the tip. 



B. bipinnata. Dry soil, from Conn, to 111. and S., 1 - .> high, branched, 

 with 1 - 3-pinnately parted petiolcd leaves, ovate-lanceolate leaflets, small heads, 

 short pale-yellow rays, and slender akenes with 3-4 barbed awns. 



54. ACTINOMERIS. (Greek-made name, alluding to the irregularity 

 of the rays in the commonest species.) 11 



A. squarrbsa, common in low rich soil from W. New York S. & W. ; with 

 branching stems 4 - 8 high, lance-oblong leaves tapering to both ends, nu- 

 merous rather corymbed heads, spreading involucre, 4-10 irregular rays, and 

 broadly winged akenes : fl. Sept. 



A. helianthoides, in open grounds W. & S., resembles a Sunflower as 

 the name denotes, l-3 high, with more hairy lance-ovate sessile leaves, few 

 and larger heads, erect involucre, 8-15 regular rays, and slightly winged 

 akenes : fl. summer. 



55. VERBESINA, CROWXBEARD. (Origin of name obscure.) Ours 

 are tall (4 -7 high) branching herbs in rich soil, with compound corymbs 

 of small heads : 11. summer. ^ 



V. Siegesb6ckia, from S. Pcnn. to 111. & ., has 4-winged stems, smooth- 

 ish, large and thin ovate and opposite leaves pointed at both ends, yellow flow- 

 ers, and wingless akenes. 



V. Virginica, of same range, has stem, less winged, smaller lance-ovate alter- 

 nate leaves soft-downy beneath, white flowers, and narrowly winged akenes. 



56. XIMINESIA. (Named for J. Xi mines, a Spanish apothecary.) 



X. encelioides, of Texas and Mexico, and cult, for ornament, 2 high, 

 spreading, rather hoary, at least the lower face of the oblong or heart-shaped 

 clasping serrate leaves ; the bright yellow heads somewhat corymbed, showy, 

 the rays deeply 3-toothcd : fl. all summer. (T) 



57. HELIANTHITS, SUNFLOWER (which the name means in Greek). 

 The following are the commonest of the numerous species, many of which are 

 difficult. 



1. (f) Receptacle flnt and vert/ broad: disk brownish: leaves alternate, broad 

 and triple-ribbed, petioled : fl. summer. Cult, for ornament : wild only far 

 S. }V. : fl. all. summer. 



H. annuus, the GREAT COMMON SUNFLOWER of the gardens, with huge 

 heads ; leaves green, roughish, not hoary. 



H. argophyllus, of Texas, cult, for its hoary-white foliage; heads smaller. 

 2. 11 Rweplacle and disk convex : heads middle-sized or rather small: flower- 

 iny throuyhout late summer and autumn. 



