THE THISTLK FAMILY. 523 



confines itself to the low pine-barrens in Louisiana and Florida or occurs in 

 sandy soil along the coast to North Carolina. The rays of its mostly soli- 

 tary flower-heads are vividly yellow and usually about an inch and a half 

 long, while its opposite stem leaves are linear and those about ihc base 

 oblong, or lanceolate. 



H. strtimbsus, pale-leaved wood sunHower, is through dry soil one of the 

 common species and is often found on mountain slopes. By its small flowcr- 

 heads,— their involucres having bracts about as long as the disks.— and by its 

 large, opposite, ovate-lanceolate leaves, it can be told from the others. lis 

 common name is naturally in allusion to the leaves' pale undcrsurfaccs. 

 The stem of deep reddish purple is glaucous. 



H. microccphalus, small wood sunllower, because of its very small (lower- 

 heads and coarse-looking, thin leaves, is a rather unattractive individual. C)n 

 both sides its ovate-lanceolate foliage is rough. Mostly it grows in wood- 

 lands, or moist soil along the banks of streams. 



SMALL YELLOW CROWNBEARD. 



Verbeshia occidcntalis. 



FAMILY COLOUR ODOUR RANGE TIME OF BLOOM 



Tliistle. yellow. Scentless. Georgia and Florida to Pennsylvania. AHt^uttti^tol'ff . 



Flower-heads: small ; numerous ; growing in loose, terminal coryml)s. hn-ol- 

 jicre ; campanulate, with lanceolate bracts ; imbricated in two or more rows. A'avs : 

 one to five, slender. Achencs : flattened; wingless, with two divergent avins. 

 Lecn'es : opposite ; ovate, or ovate-lanceolate, long i)ointcd at the apex and con- 

 tracted into the margined petiole at the base ; unevenly serrate, minutely pubc!»- 

 cent. Stem: three to eight feet high ; branches; four'winged, pubescent. 



Almost everywhere and in all kinds of soil, by roadsides, in dry thickets, 

 on hillsides or following along water-courses, we find this common weedy- 

 looking plant. Although many notice it, few are sulTiciently inspired by 

 its appearance to inquire as to its name. It belongs, however, to a large 

 genus, the achenes of which are provided with awns and often with wings. 



V. Virginica, small white crownbeard, varies perceptibly from the pre- 

 ceding species in bearing flower-heads which are larger and which produce 

 white rays. Moreover its leaves are alternate, the upper ones lanceoiale and 

 sessile. 



V. alternifblia, actinomeris, a plant with larger, more showy and more 

 abundant flower-heads than either of its mentioned relatives, has also a 

 globose disk and but few bracts in the involucres. These latter in fruil be- 

 come reflexed. The leaves are lanceolate and rough on their up|>cr sur- 

 faces. Often the plant grows tall and is very showy through its dccp-ycllovv 

 ray flowers. 



