SUNFLOWER. 



Helianthus annuus. 



SPERMATOPHYTES; DICOTYLEDONS; COMPOSITE. 



PRELIMINARY. 



THIS plant belongs to the Composite, which is the 

 highest family of the plant kingdom. It is so universally 

 recognized that no general description is needed. The 

 species mentioned is the most common of the cultivated 

 sunflowers, but any wild species will serve well for the 

 study. In case it is not convenient to obtain any of the 

 species of this genus, there are numerous representatives 

 of the Compositae that are good illustrations of the group. 

 The rosinweed (Silphium), coneflower (Rudbeckia), gold- 

 enrod (Solidago), ox-eye daisy (Chrysanthemum}, and dan- 

 delion (Taraxacum), suggest the members of the family 

 that may be selected. If the study is to be made at a 

 time when fresh specimens are not available either in the 

 field or greenhouse, preserved material may be used, 

 though the use of such material will rarely be necessary. 

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