320 PLANTS GROWING IN WASTE SOIL. 



cellent for coughs, or to strengthen the human system. In 

 fact, it is one of the oldest known of the medicinal plants. 



CHAnoniLE. MAYWEED. 



Anthemis Cotula. 



FAMILY COLOUR ODOUR RANGE TIME OF BLOOM 



Composite. White, centre yellow. Strongly scented. Mostly east. Late summtr. 



flower-heads : small ; composed of ray and disk flowers similar to those of 

 the white daisy. The disk-flowers arranged in a more decided cone and the 

 twice pinnately-divided leaves mark the difference by which it may be known. 



" Bring down the bag of chamomile leaves and put some to 

 steep on the stove, Lambie, and trust me to know what will 

 bring the roses back to your cheeks when the spring air makes 

 you limpid and weak." 



In some such phrase the virtues of chamomile have been 

 sung throughout many generations. It has also been described 

 by an old writer as the plant physician ; for a sick plant, when 

 placed near it, will frequently recover. Insects, however, can- 

 not abide it, in either a dried or powdered form ; and nightmare 

 will not enter the portal when a piece of it is laid on the pillow 

 beside a troubled sleeper. 



It is a bold little plant and often ventures even into the ruts 

 made by heavy wagons in country roads. 



IRON-WEED. (Plate CLXII.) 



Verndnia Noveboracdnsis. 



FAMILY COLOUR ODOUR RANGE TIME OF BLOOM 



Composite. Reddish, purple. Scentless. Maine to Virginia A iigust^ September. 



and westward. 



Flower -heads : loosely clustered in corymbs on axillary flower-stalks and 

 composed of tubular flowers. Involucre : of pointed purplish scales similar to 

 those of the thistle. Leaves: lanceolate; netted-veined ; rough. Stem: tall; 

 leafy; angled; crisp. 



There is just a little rivalry between the iron-weed and some 

 of the members of the aster family, and we often find them 

 disputing the possession of the roadside banks. Usually the 

 asters come out victorious, and the iron-weed is then driven to 

 seek refuge in the low meadows, where it begins the same feud 

 over again with Joe-Pye-weed. It is a handsome, brilliant 



