HARPER'S GUIDE TO WILD FLOWERS 



inches across, the lower ones with petioles, the upper sessile, 

 smaller, triangular, square at the base. Late summer. 



New Jersey southward and westward. In rich woods and 

 prairies. 



C. sua<veolens — This is a plant of lower growth (highest 5 feet), 

 with triangular-shaped, pointed, toothed leaves, the stem leaves 

 with winged petioles. August and September. 



A rare growth of rich woods from Connecticut west and south. 



White Lettuce. Rattlesnake-root 



Prenanthes alba.. — Family, Composite. Color, white or cream. 

 Pappus and involucral scales brown or purplish. Flowers, 5 to 

 18 in a head, hanging on short pedicels, corymbosely panicled at 

 the ends of branches. Leaves, triangular in general outline, with 

 ear-like lobes at their bases, 3 to 5-cleft, toothed, the upper 

 entire, oblong. Late summer into September. 



Rich woods and thickets, and all shady grounds from 

 Maine to Georgia and westward. A smooth, coarse plant 

 with milky juice, variable leaves which are large below and 

 small above, 3 or 4 feet high. The heads of bell-like flowers 

 hang close to the purplish stem in terminal panicles. (See 

 illustration, p. 145.) 



Wild Lettuce 



P. altissima. — Color, cream or yellowish white. Flowers, in 

 loose, terminal, and axillary panicles, with leaves interspersed; 

 5 involucral scales surround the flower. Tall, 5 to 7 feet. Leaves, 

 with petioles, sometimes winged, variously divided, cut, or toothed, 

 ovate, triangular, or heart-shaped, or 3 to 5-lobed, the divisions 

 cleft. Late July or August to October. 



Cool, moist, shady woods, Maine to Georgia westward to 

 Tennessee. 



Lion's-foot. Gall-of-the-earth 



P. serpentaria — Color, greenish white or cream, sometimes pur- 

 plish (see p. 370). In this species, which is variable in color, the 

 heads of floivers are crowded at the tips of long branches. In- 

 volucre is bell-shaped, of green or purplish bracts. Pappus white 

 or light brown. Leaves, the lower with margined petioles, all 

 variously cut or lobed, the segments being generally rounded at the 

 tips, thickish. Stem, purplish, smooth. September and October. 



Near the coast from Massachusetts to Florida and Ala- 

 bama. The tubers of this genus are very bitter to the taste, 

 whence the common name, gall-of-the-earth, 



146 



