192 



WEEDS AND USEFUL PLANTS. 



1, E. hieracifo'lia, Raf. Stem simple, or paniculate at summit; 

 leaves lance-oblong, narrowed at base, acute, unequally incised-den- 

 tate, sessile, the upper ones often sagittate-auriculate and somewhat 

 clasping. 



HlERACIUM-LEAVED ERECHTHITES. Fire-Weed. 



Stem 2-4 or 5 feet high, rather large, succulent and tender when young, striate-sulcate, 

 more or less hairy, sometimes nearly smooth. Leaves 3-6 or 8 inches long. Heads 

 middle-sized, often numerous, in small cymose corymhe terminating the paniculate 

 branches; involucre terete-oblong, slightly ventricose ; florets whitish or ochroleucous, 

 very slender and numerous. Pappus very white, of numerous fine and almost silky 

 hairs. Receptacle flat, rough ish-dotted. 



Moist grounds, recent clearings, &c.: throughout the United States. Fl. July -August. 

 Fr. September. 



Obs. This plant (which has much the aspect of a Sonchus, or Sow- 

 thistle) is remarkable for its pre- 

 valence in newly cleared grounds, 

 especially in and around the 

 spots where brush-wood has been 

 burnt ; whence its common 

 name, "Fire-weed." It is a 

 coarse, worthless weed, and 

 often very abundant in new 

 grounds ; but it is not apt to 

 be troublesome in cultivated 

 fields. 



22. SENE'CIO, L. GROUND- 

 SEL. 



[Latin, Senex, an old man ; the pappus 

 resembling a white beard.] 



Heads many-flowered, either 

 discoid with the florets all tu- 

 bular and perfect or radiate 

 with the ray-florets pistillate. 

 Involucre subcylindric with the 

 scales in a single series, or caly- 

 culate with a few accessory 

 scales. Receptacle naked. Akencs 

 not beaked nor winged often 

 grooved or ribbed. Pappus of 

 numerous very slender caducous 

 hairs. Herbs with alternate leaves and solitary or corymbose heads. 



129 



isa 



* Heads without rays ; root annual. 



FIG. 128. The common Groundsel (Senecio vulgaris) . 129. A flower. ISO. An akene 



