rcssell] THE GOLDENROD 237 



Each wind-swept space 



Waves thy red gold in Winter's face — 



He strives each star. 



In stormy pride to lay full low; 



And when thy bar 



Resists his blow, 



Will crown thee with a puff of snow! 



During the early summer, green stems arising from the perennial 

 roots spring up everywhere. Towards the last of July and first of 

 August , flecks of yellow appear on the tips of branches. This plant 

 is one of bright and generous bloom. It lights up the dark swamp 

 with spots of glowing gold — fringes roadsides with tassels of inimi- 

 table grace — dots open woods with miniature circles of golden 

 beauty. It is very common in open fields and is present every- 

 where except at seashores. No ground is so hard and dry as to 

 forbid it. Because of this, it has been argued that the Goldenrod 

 has a just and fitting claim to be considered our national emblem. 



The goldenrods have two distinct kinds of leaves. One is called 

 a feather veined leaf and the other a three-ribbed leaf. All of the 

 goldenrods therefore can be divided into two groups, distinguished 

 apart by the kind of leaf. Beyond this leaf difference, there are 

 other distinguishing characteristics of the plants, in relation to the 

 flowers and the plant stems. 



One species follows another so that we have some from early 

 August till late autumn. The species which I have chosen is the 

 Solidago Canadensis, the Canadian goldenrod and it is so plentiful 

 that it is also called the "Common goldenrod." It begins to bloom 

 about the middle of August and continues through September. 

 It is very abundant and widely distributed being common almost 

 everywhere especially in copse borders, on roadsides and in dry 

 situations. 



This species is often quite variable. It has a tall, stout, round, 

 leafy stem from three to six feet in height. It is rough-downy or 

 hairy to the touch and of a light yellowish gray color. Usually it 

 has slightly toothed leaves, with those near the top almost tooth- 

 less. They are triple-ribbed, rough above and a trifle wooly 

 beneath. They taper to a point at either end, are quite long and 

 narrow, the color being a deep green. 



The flower heads are small, so that in order to attract the atten- 

 tion of insects, they are set closely together along the stem, giving 

 a mass of color. These flower clusters spread with graceful curves 

 in an ample plume sometimes one-sided. They grow on the curving 



