278 coMrosrra:. (compositk family.) 



divcr;;ing peduncles, 12 - 20-Jlowercd ; achenia short, not tapering at the summit. 

 — Open woods : rather common. 



78.- NABALUS, Cass. R.vttlesx.vkk-root. 



Heads few - many-flowered. Involucre cylindrical, of 5 to 14 linear scales in 

 a single row, and a few small braetlcts at the base. Achenia short, linear-ol)- 

 long, striate or grooved, not contracted at tiie apex. Pappus of copious straw- 

 color or brownish and rough capillary bristles. — Perennial iierbs, with upright 

 loaiy stems ari.sing from spindle-shaped (extremely bitter) tubers, very variable 

 leaves, and racemosc-panicled mostly nodding heads. Flowers greenish-wliite 

 or yellowish, often tinged with purple; in late summer and autumn. (Name 

 probably from vdjiXa, a harp, in allusion to the lyrato leaves which tliese plants 

 sometimes present.) Species of Prenanthes, L. 



* Involucre smooth or neurit/ so, b-20-Jiuwered. 



1. N. albus, Hook. (White Lettuce. Rattlesnake-root.) Smooth 

 and glaucous (2° -4° higli) ; stem corymbose-pan icled at the summit : leaves angu- 

 late or triangular-halberd-form, sinuate-toothed, or 3-5-cleft; the uppermost 

 oblong and undivided; involucre (purplish) of about 8 scales, 8-l2-Jloaered ; 

 pappus deep cinimmon-color. — Var. SeupentXuia is a form with deeply divided 

 leaves, their margins often rough-ciliate. — Borders of woods, in rich soil : 

 common, especially northward. — Stouter and more corymbed than the next, 

 witii tliickish leaves and often purplish branches. Heads G" long. 



2. N, altissimus, Hook. (Tall W.) Smooth; stem tlill and .slender 

 (3° -6° high) ; the heads in small axillary and terminal loose clusters forming 

 a long and wand-like leafy panicle: leaves membranaceous, all petioled, ovate, 

 heart-shaped, or triangular, and merely toothed or cleft, with naked or winged 

 petioles, or frequently 3-5-parted, with the divisions entire or again cleft; in- 

 volucre slender (greenisli), o/' 5 scales, 5 - G-flowered ; pap/ius dirty white, or pale 

 straw-color. — Kich moist woods : common northward. 



3. N. Fi'^seri, DC. (Lion's-foot. Gall-of-the-earth.) Nearly 

 smooth ; stem coryiiJiose-pnn icled at the summit (l°-4° high) ; leaves mostly del- 

 toid, roughish ; the lower variously 3- T-lobed, on margined jietioles ; the upjier 

 oblong-lanceolate, mostly undivided, nearly sessile ; iuvulucre (greenish or pur- 

 plish, sometimes slightly bristly) o/a^w/^ 8 scales, 8 - \2-Jioweied : jxtp/nis dull 

 straw-color. — Varies greatly in foliage : tlie var. integrif^lius has the thick- 

 ish leaves all undivided and merely toothed. — Dry sandy or sterile soil, S. New 

 England to Virginia and southward. 



4. N. nknus, DC. Smooth; stem low and simple (5'- 10' high) ; the 

 heads in axillary clusters forming a narrow racemed panicle; leaves triangular- 

 halberd-shaped and very variously lobed or cleft, on slender petioles ; involucre 

 (livid) 10- \'i- flowered, of about 8 propel- scales and several very short bract-like ones, 

 which are Iriamptlar-ovate and ap pressed ; pap])us straw-color. — Aljjine summits, 

 Wliite Mountains of New Hampshire, and Adirondacks, N. New York. 



5. N. Bo6ttii, DC. Stem simple, dtoarf 15' -G' high), pubescent at the 

 summit; the heads in an almost simpb; raceme; lowest leaves lialberd-shaped 

 or heart-shaped, the middle oblong, the upper lanceolate, nearly entire, taper- 



