84 A GUIDE TO THE WILD FLOWERS 



may have separate petals, as in the roses and buttercups. A 

 Httle careful observation will tell to v^^hich of these major 

 types the specimen in hand may belong. 



To reduce these structural differences to some sort of a 

 system is the easiest way to find any particular plant. And 

 our primary classification is as follows : 



Flowers in compact heads ; composed of all ray flowers, of ray 

 flowers and tubular flowers, or only of tubular flowers. These 

 flowers heads always surrounded at the base by a series of over- 

 lapping tiny scales, known as involucral bracts. A complete de- 

 scription of the daisy family, and pictures of the flowers will 



be found at Nos. 810-925 Daisy Family, no. 809 



Flowers not in heads; or if so, without the series of overlapping 

 tiny scales beneath them, as in the daisy family. Petals obvious ; 

 or if the petals are replaced by petal-like sepals, then these are 

 often showy. 



Petals united, often forming a distinct tube, which may be 

 perfectly symmetrical, or unsymmetrical and irregular .... 



no. 622 



Petals separate, not united to form an obvious tube 

 Flowers unsymmetrical and irregular, often pea-like, violet- 

 like, or spurred, or otherwise not symmetrical (see figs. 



558-621) no. 556 



Flowers symmetrical and regular 



All the flowers on slender stalklets which arise at the 

 same point and produce a flower cluster known as an 



umbel (see figs. 527-555) no. 526 



Flowers not so arranged no. 313 



Petals none, or very small and inconspicuous, if the sepals 

 are petal-like, not brightly colored, and not showy (often 

 weedy plants) no. 244 



No. 244 



Petals None or Very Small and Inconspicuous. 

 Flowers not Showy. 



(Nos. 245-312.) 

 This is a small group of about fifty diflferent plants, often 

 botanically unrelated, but all characterized by having no 

 petals, or if, as in some cases they do produce petals, these 

 are small, inconspicuous, and not showy. Sometimes, as if 

 to make up for this deficiency of petals, the sepals will be 

 petal-like, but even these are not brightly colored or showy, 

 except in No. 297. Altogether a rather drab assemblage of 



