m: lucmnrrs <i| 



THE TIIISTLK I-AMILV. 



While the bur-marigolds, or beggar-ticks, as many . an um 

 this large genus indiscriminately, are closely related to the Rudbcckias. they 

 suggest to us the coreopsis even more. Many of them arc very p'rciiy. 

 but of all unscrupulous little bloomers in the world they seem to be the 

 most so. Although they Hare jaunty golden-heads, all llie while ihry 

 are preparing their flattened quadrangular or nearly tcrclc seeds, with 

 barbed and sharp pointed awns. These, later, attach themselves to anythinjr 

 ready to carry them along and disperse them at a distance from the p.i- • 

 stem. Fairly have they the power to render an autumn rambU- al:,, : 

 miserable. It is quite impossible, it would seem, to avoid ilicm. Ami 

 then so in harmony with their purpose is the instinct of humanity, that few 

 persons would be seen returning home while covered wiih their |><)ds. but 

 sit down by the edge of the woods or swamps to pick off the seeds and --i- 

 ter them — usually in receptive soil. 



B.fronddsa, beggar-ticks, or stick-tight, has surely not much to rcconj- 

 mend it in the way of beauty, as its flower-heads are without apparent rays. 

 Although very common through flelds and woods, often in fact a trouble- 

 some weed, it is never conspicuous, preferring, it would seem, to hide itself. 

 In the autumn it makes its presence strongly felt, however, by its little flat 

 and obovate achenes, each with two slender awns covered with minute, 

 down-pointed prickles that enable them to secure a grim hold on almost 

 anything. Its leaves are divided pinnately from three to five times, and 

 always rather thin. 



B. bipinnata, Spanish needles, also secures every year a fairly good dis- 

 tribution by means of its needle-shaped achenes, terminated at their summits 

 by usually four short, spreading awns of the pappus. They are barbed 

 downwardly — as the expression is — and are, therefore, able fairly to lay 

 siege to anything passing their way. The achenes, curiously, are held by 

 them in an upright position. The plant's foliage is thin and finely dis- 

 sected, while the ray flowers, even when present, are short and not con- 

 spicuous. 



MARSHALLIA. 



Marshdllia gra »unifoh'a. 



Flmuer-heads: terminal ; solitary and composed entirely of numerous, tuhular, 

 perfect flowers, their corollas pubescent, campanulatc with the limh deeply five- 

 parted. Style branches: long: anthers: blue. Jtn'ohtcrc: with two rows of liiu.u - 

 lanceolate, nearly equal bracts. Leases: alternate, spatulatc, or line.-ir-Iani-c..I.i:. . 

 the lower ones narrowed at the base into margined i)ctiolcs, the upper ones .s«.->siU. 

 entire, smooth, pale green and once or thrice-ncrvcd. Slern: two to three feet 



