WILD BLOWERS yellow and orange 



flowers are rather large, and have from seven to ten 

 rays. They are thickly grouped on short, spreading, 

 recurved stems, many of which form a large, showy, 

 terminal, leafy plume. This charming species inspired 

 Celia Thaxter, who wrote: 



" Graceful, tossing plumes of glowing gold, 

 Waving lonely on the rocky ledge; 

 Leaning seaward, lovely to behold, 



Clinging to the high cliff's ragged edge." 



EARLY, PLUME OR SHARP-TOOTHED QOLDEN- 

 ROD. YELLOW-TOP 



Solidago juncea. Thistle Family. 



This species is one of the earliest and latest, as well 

 as one of the handsomest and commonest of its genus. 

 Its smooth, round, rather stout, rigid and light green 

 stalk rises to an average of two feet in height. Near 

 the top it branches into numerous long, slender, droop- 

 ing extensions, along the upper side of which, near the 

 tips, the golden-yellow flowers are densely crowded. 

 The rays number from eight to twelve, and are very 

 small. The long-oval, pointed, lower leaves have 

 sharply defined, spreading teeth, and are narrowed 

 into winged stems. The upper leaves are long and 

 narrow, and taper toward either end, with more or 

 less entire margins. Their surface is smooth, and 

 they are slightly triple-veined. Small leaflets spring 

 from the angles of the leaves, which alternate on the 

 stalk. The dried plumes are commonly used for 

 decorating in farm and country houses. Yellow-top 

 is found in dry or rocky soil in copses and banks from 



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