STUDY OF WILD FLOWERS 195 



be found. These are located mostly in corners of fields, 

 along roadside and ditches, and in swampy places. The 

 most common of these are the purple and white asters, the 

 wild sunflower, rosin weeds, blazing star, butterfly weed, 

 black-eyed Susans, and golden-rods. 



How do the fall flowers differ from the spring as to 

 height? As to size of leaves, number of leaves? What 

 are the prevailing colors of fall flowers ? 



A study of the cultivated sunflower of the garden may 

 well precede the study of the autumn flowers. Is the sun- 

 flower one flower or a cluster ? It is easy to see that it is 

 composed of numerous small flowers grouped to form a 

 flat head. Are all the flowers the same shape? Those 

 on the outside with the yellow strap are called ray flowers. 

 Those smaller ones with little tubular corollas are called 

 disk flowers. Can you find stamens and a pistil in one 

 tiny flower? Compare a wild sunflower with a garden 

 one. Has it the same kind of flowers ? The rosin weed ? 

 Black-eyed Susan? 



The golden-rod may be studied in detail. Where is 

 this plant found growing? How tall is it? How are the 

 leaves arranged on the stem? Are there many or few 

 leaves ? Are the leaves soft or rough ? Examine leaves 

 of other autumn plants for this quality. Does the stem 

 branch ? Where are the flowers ? Has this plant a head of 

 small flowers like the sunflower ? Are the heads clustered ? 

 By looking closely, the children will see that the spray of 

 golden-rod is made up of small, loose heads and that each 

 of these is made up of very tiny florets. Note how very 

 small the single flowers are. 



Notice the plant when the flowers have faded. What 



