«S SYNGENESIA. SUPERFLUA. 



292. SENECIO. Nutt. Gen. 664. 



[Lat. Senex, an old man; from its pappus resembling a grey beard,— or its receptacle a bald head.] 



Cal. cylindric, stib-calyculate; scales sphacelate at point. Pappus pilose, copious. 



§ 1 . Rays none- 



S. HiER AciFOLius. Ell- Stem virgaie-paniculate; leaves oblong, amplexicaul, acute, dentate; calyx smooth. 

 Ftt/g-o— Fire-weed. Hawk-weed. Groundsel. 



Fl. Beginning of August, and after. Fr. mat. Beginning of September, and after- 



Hob. Newly cleared grounds; and moist places: frequent. 2 to 4 feet high: florets white. 



Obs. The name, "fire.weed," by which this plant is usually known, originated from the circumstance of 

 its generally making its appearance on spots \vh( re fire has recently been. It is, however, always abundant 

 in new clearings of rich woodland, whether there has been fire or not. I know not why it should haVo 

 been called hieracifolius; for, in its general aspect, it resembles a Sonchus, more than a Hieracium- 



§ 2. Radiate. 

 S. BALSAMiTJE. Ell- Radical Icavcs oblong, crenate; cauHne lyrate-pinnatifid; flowers sub-umbellate. 

 Fw/g-o— Balsam Groundsel. 



Fl. Middle of May, and after. Fr. mat Middle of June, and after. 



Hub. Meado^Vs, fields, &c. frequent. 1 to 2 feet high: flowers yellow. 



Obs. I have specimens with radical leaves orbicular, obovate, and spathulate; but there is such a close 

 general resemblance among them, that I am not certain of having other species. I have the authority both 

 of Mr. Schweinitz, and Dr. Torrey, for this. 



293. INULA. Nutt. Gen. 658. 



[Etymology obscure: supposed to be corrupted from Helenium—whlch see.1 

 Cal. squatrose, or imbricate. Cor. rays numerous, linear. Anthers bisetose at base. Pappus pilose. 



I. HEJ.ENIUM. Fl. Brit. Leaves amplexicaul, ovate, rugose, woolly beneath; calyx scales ovate. 



Pu/g-o— Elecampane. 



F/. Middle of July. F?-. mat Latter end of August 



Hub. About houses, gardens, fence-rovrs, &c. frequent. 3 to 5 feet high- flowers yellow. 



06s. This foreigner has strayed from the gardens, and is becoming naturalized. The root is mucilaglA- 

 ou«!, and is a very popular ingredient in the preparation ot pectoral syrups. It is also said to have been a 

 principle article in the composition of a specific, whilom of some notoriety among the credulous, for the 

 prevention and cure of hiidrophobia. The nostrum is still, probably, manufactured and sold for the benefit 

 of the proprietor, if not of the public,— and is, doubtless, about as efficacious as Scull-cap, Water plantain, 

 Or Chick-weed. 



294. ERIGERON. Nutt. Gen. 657. 

 [Gr. Er, spring, and Geron, an old man; the plant being hoary in the spring.] 

 Cal. imbricate. Cor. rays linear, narrow. Pappus mostly double; outer chaffy, minute; inner pilose. 

 E. BELLiDiFOLiuM. Ell- Hirsute; radical Icaves spathulate-obovatc, dentate; cauline lanceolate, entire. 

 fi>jnbn. E. pulchellum. 3fx. Vulgo—Foor Robert's Plantain. 



Fl. Middle of May, and after- -PV- mat. Last of June, and after. 



Hab. Borders of woods, &c. frequent. 12 to 18 inches high: flowers about 3, rays pale purple, long. 



06s. This is said to have been one of the Indian remedies, for the bite of the rattlesnake. It is rarely, if 

 ever, used as a medicine, in this vicinity. 



E. PHiLADEj.PHrcuM? Plh Pubescent; leaves cuneate-oblong, cauline semi-amplexicaul; rays capillary. 

 j^;. Beginning of June. Pr. mat. Latter end of July. 



Hab. Woodlands, along Brandywine : frequent. 2 to 3 feet high : rays pale purple. 



Obs I have always taken this for the E. philadelphicum: and yet on a careful re-examination, it agrees 



in seveial characteristics with the E. purpureuw, of Willdenow, and Pursh. The upper leaves are entire, 

 -the peduncles are considerably thickene^d, or enlarged, next the calyx, and the lower ones elongated. 

 Not havinr«een both species,' I cannot determine to which ours belongs. I think however, i « the E. 



phtladelphfcur^ of Mr. Elliott's Sketch; and am pretty confident it » that of Barton's Flora Ph.ladelphjca, 



E. sTRiGosiTM. Ph. Strigose-pilose; leaves lanceolate, tapering at base, coarsely dentate, or entire. 

 Fw/go— Flea-bane. Daisey. 



FL Latter end of May, and after. Fr. mat. Middle of July, and after. 



Hab. Pastures, and upland meadows, &c. very common. 2 to 3 feet high: flowers smallish. ray« w.ite- 

 Ois. This weed is so abundant as to be rather a nu:sance on our farms. 



