COMPOSITE FAMILY. 185 



yellow. Akenes about three-fourths of an inch long, somewhat scabrous with short erect 

 hairs. Chaff of the receptacle lance-linear, shorter than the akenes. 



Gardens and cultivated lots : New England to Florida. Fl. August -September. Fr. 

 October. 



Obs. This, like the B. frondo'sa if not carefully watched and eradi- 

 cated is a great pest in cultived lots, especially in kitchen gardens 

 and Indian-corn fields. One or two other species, equally worthless as 

 the preceding, are frequently to be met with, in low grounds : but those 

 here given are the most common, and the most annoying, and therefore 

 most entitled to the notice of the farmer. 



14. MARU'TA, Cass. MAY-WEED. 



[Etymology obscure.] 



Heads many-flowered ; rays mostly neutral. Involucre hemispherical, 

 the scales imbricated in few series, shorter than the disk. Receptacle 

 prominently convex or oblong-conical, chaffy all over or only at summit. 

 Akenes obovoid or obconic, ribbed, destitute of pappus. Annual herbs. 

 Leaves bi- or tri-pinnately dissected. 



1. M. Cot'ula, DC. Scales of the involucre with whitish scarious mar- 

 gins', receptacle conical, chaffy at summit only ; chaff subulate. 

 Stinking Chamomile. Dog's Fennel. May-weed. 

 Fr. Maroute. Germ. Stiukende Kamille. Span. Manzanilla fetida. 



Plant strongly fetid. Stem 6-12 inches high, mostly erect, somewhat pilose, leafy and 

 much branched. Leaves 1-2 or 3 inches long, bi- and tri-pinnately dissected, the seg- 

 ments short, flat, linear, acute. Heads terminal on elongated pubescent peduncles ; rays 

 white ; disk yellow, prominently convex or subcylindric. Akenes oblong or obconic, 

 striate-ribbed, mostly tuberculate in lines, with a minute disk at summit, but no sort of 

 pappus. 



Farm-yards and waste places ; throughout the United States : introduced. Native of 

 Europe. Fl. June -September. Fr. August -October. 



Obs. This disagreeable little weed has become extensively naturalized ; 

 and although not apt to spread to an injurious extent over cultivated 

 grounds, it is often quite abundant in lanes and farm-yards^, and not 

 easily expelled. The plant possesses tonic and emetic properties, similar 

 to those of Chamomile, and though very nauseous is sometimes used as 

 a substitute for that. It is said that the bruised fresh plant will pro- 

 duce blistering if applied to the skin. 



15. AN'THEMIS, L. CHAMOMILE. 



[Greek, Anthemon, a flower ; in allusion to the great number it bears.] 



Heads many-flowered ; rays pistillate. Scales of the involucre imbricated 

 in few series. Receptacle conical, with membranaceous chaff among the 

 florets. Akenes terete or obtusely quadrangular ; pappus minute, coroni- 

 form, or sometimes wanting. Annual or perennial herbs. Leaves bipin- 

 nately dissected. 



1. A. NO'BILIS, L. Stems simple, numerous, spreading and decumbent, 

 villous ; leaves pinnately dissected, subvillous, the segments jiiultifid 

 with the sub-divisions linear-subulate ; chaff of the receptacle scarious, 

 lanceolate, not awned at apex, a little shorter than the florets. 



