442 THE KINDS OF PLANTS 



and sterile; scales of involucre overlapping; torus bristly: achenes oblong, 

 with bristly or chaffy pappus. Cultivated. 



C. Cyanus, Linn. Corn-flower. Bachelor's button. Figs. 256, 559. Gray 

 herb: leaves linear and mostly entire: heads blue, rose or white. Europe. 



C. moschata, Linn. Sweet sultan. One to 2 ft., smooth: leaves pinnatifid: 

 pappus sometimes wanting; heads fragrant, white, rose or yellow; large. Asia. 



25. TUSSILAGO. Coltsfoot. 



Low stemless hairy perennials from rootstocks: scapes simple in early 

 spring, scaly-bracted, each bearing a single dandelion-like head: leaves 

 radical, appearing later, orbicular-angled or toothed, white- woolly at first: 

 ray flowers in several rows, pistillate, fertile; disk flowers tubular, stam- 

 inate, sterile; involucre nearly simple, or 1-rowed achenes of ray flowers, 

 cylindrical, 5-10-ribbed; pappus abundant, soft, hair-like, white. 



T. Farfara, Linn. Yellow heads in very early spring before the leaves. A 

 common weed East, found in low, damp places and along cool banks. Europe. 



26. SOLIDAGO. Goldenrod. 



Perennial herbs, with narrow, sessile leaves: heads yellow, rarely whitish, 

 few-flowered, usually numerous in the cluster, the ray-florets 1-16 and 

 pistillate; scales of involucre close, usually not green and leaf -like; torus 

 not chaffy: achene nearly cylindrical, ribbed, with pappus of many soft 

 bristles. Of goldenrods there are many species. They are characteristic 

 plants of the American autumn. They are too critical for the beginner. 



27. INULA. Elecampane. 



Large and tall coarse perennial herbs, with large, showy yellow flower- 

 heads 2-4 in. diameter, sunflower-like: leaves large, simple, alternate, 

 and also radical in clumps: heads contain both perfect tubular, and pistil- 

 late ray florets, in one row; receptacle not chaffy: achenes 4— 5-ribbed: 

 pappus in one row, bristles hair-like. 



I. Helenium, Linn. Four to 6 ft., rising from a clump of large, ovate, 

 dock-like leaves on heavy petioles; stem-leaves sessile or clasping: heads 

 solitary, terminal; involucre bracts ovate, leaf-like, woolly. Weed in damp 

 pasture and along roadside. Summer. 



28. ASTER. Aster. Fig. 252. 



Perennial herbs, with narrow or broad leaves: heads with several to 

 many white, blue or purple rays in a single series, the ray florets fertile; 

 scales of involucre overlapping, usually more or less green and leafy; torus 

 flat: achene flattened, bearing soft, bristly pappus. Asters are conspicuous 

 plants in the autumn flora of the country. The kinds are numerous, and it 

 is difficult to draw specific lines. The beginner will find them too critical. 



29. ERIGERON. Fleabane. 



Annual, biennial or perennial erect herbs, with simple, sessile leaves: 

 heads few- to many-flowered; rays numerous in several rows and pistillate; 



