348 Yellow to Orange Flowers 



Solidago decumbens, or Field Golden-rod, has tall, stiff, 

 wand-like stems, which terminate in dense compact panicles 

 of flowers, and sparse, long, narrow leaves, with even mar- 

 gins. It is very beautiful to walk across the alpine fields, 

 where 



" The Golden-rod lights slowly 

 Its torch for the Autumn blaze," 



and where the other fall flowers unite to celebrate the pass- 

 ing of summer in a riotous splendour of scarlet, purple, and 

 gold. 



Solidago multiradiata, or Northern Golden-rod, is a 

 coarser species with small loose clusters of rather large deep 

 yellow flowers, which terminate the leafy downy stems. 



"How deepening bright, like mountain Aflame, doth burn 

 The Golden-rod upon a thousand hills. 

 This is the Autumn's flower, and to my soul 

 A token fresh of beauty and of life, 

 And life's supreme delight.' 5 



Solidago missouriensis, or Mountain Golden-rod, has a 

 perfectly smooth slender stem and short, broad, branching 

 panicles of yellow flowers. The leaves are thick and lance- 

 shaped, with entire rough margins. It grows in dry soil 

 and rears its clusters of golden bloom where the sunlight 

 and shade interlace at the edge of the forests. 



Solidago nemoralis, or Gray Golden-rod, is so called on 

 account of its gray-green cottony stems and leaves. The 

 latter are lance-shaped and sharply toothed. 



Thus we see that the Golden-rods grow everywhere, 

 from the high hill-crests to the deep sweet valleys ; that 

 some species attain to a height of six feet under certain 

 very favourable conditions, while others grow in dwarf 



