238 NATURE-STUDY REVIEW 14:6— Sept., 1918 



branchlets on the top of the stalk. The flower heads are small and 

 golden yellow, consisting of both ray and disc flowers. There are 

 from 5 to 1 5 short rays. 



The central tubular florets are perfect, and are cross-fertilized 

 by many insects of many orders, chief among which are bees, 

 butterflies and the beelike flies. The disc flowers, only, have 

 stamens with pollen while the banner flowers have no pollen but 

 only a pistil. The pistils of the disc flowers are within the pollen 

 tube and push their way up thru,' pushing out the pollen at the top. 

 Small insects quickly dislodge it, then elongation continues and the 

 top of the two parted pistil begins to protrude and finally expands 

 its tips, disclosing at the center the stigmatic surface, which has 

 until now been protected by close contact. The pollen is scattered 

 to the stigmas of neighboring flowers and cross fertilization results. 



The flower heads set closely together along the stem 



The banner flowers closely arranged give a wonderful mass of color 

 and attract insects thus. The flowers furnish an abundance of 

 nectar for all. 



This species propagates both by seeds and by rootstocks. The 

 seeds are provided with pappus, and are scattered about by the wind 

 in November and December. The flowers never close up except 

 when forming their seeds. This species also has creeping under- 

 ground stems which are perennial and from these spring up new 

 plants. 



The goldenrods are weeds of course, but are not very troublesome 

 like the wild carrot and daisy. On the other hand they are widely 

 noted for their beauty and withcut them the roadsides and open 

 fields would not be nearly as pleasant and enjoyable to the passers- 

 by as they now are. They cannot be cultivated; at least florists 

 have been successful with only a few species. 



In the country around my home, the goldenrods are very 

 abundant, especially along roadsides. Many time I have driven 

 along sandy roads on days so hot that everything would have a 



