COMPOSITAE (COMPOSITE FAMILY} 



463 



A plant once known only on western prairies, 

 but now common in eastern fields, the wide 

 and rapid distribution having been accom- 

 plished by impure commercial seeds and baled 

 hay, of which the refuse is spread on the 

 fields. 



Stems one to three feet tall, simple or 

 branching near the base, rather stout, bristly 

 hairy. Leaves alternate, oblong, two to six 

 inches in length, thick, hairy, pointed at 

 both ends, entire, or slightly wavy-toothed, the 

 lower ones spatulate, three-nerved and with 

 grooved petioles, those on the stalks sessile 

 and clasping. Heads two to four inches broad, 

 solitary on long hairy peduncles, the rounded 

 disk brownish purple, its florets perfect and 

 fertile, the long sterile rays brilliant orange. 

 Bracts of the involucre in two or three rows, 

 spreading, rough and hairy. Achenes black or 

 very dark brown, about an eighth of an inch 

 long, narrow, four-angled and without a pap- 

 pus. (Fig. 323.) 



FIG. 323. Black- 

 Means OJ control eyed Susan (Rud- 



Being biennial, this weed is readily sup- beckia hiria ^ x *' 

 pressed by pulling or close cutting before its seeds develop. But 

 care must be taken that it is not continually reintroduced in 

 poorly cleaned seed. 



PURPLE CONE-FLOWER 



Braunbria purpiirea, Britton 



Other English names: Red Sunflower, Black Sampson. 



Native. Perennial. Propagates by seeds. 



Time of bloom : July to October. 



Seed-time: August to November. 



Range : Virginia to Missouri, southward to the Carolinas, Alabama, 



and Louisiana. Locally in the Northern States from New York 



to Michigan. 

 Habitat: Meadows, fence rows, and waste places. 



