410 



GENERAL BOTANY 



often at great distances from the mother plant. Marked excep- 

 tions to the 'above rule occur in G-eum triflorum, which has hairy 

 pistils which elongate and distribute the seeds by the wind. 



COMPOSITAE (COMPOSITE FAMILY) 



The Compositae are the highest type of the Sympetalae, or 

 flowers with the petals of the corolla united instead of separate 

 as in the other plants thus far studied. They are represented by 



Courtesy of American Magazine of Forestry, Washington, D.C. 



FIG. 260. Habit and flowers of the dandelion (Taraxacum) 

 Photograph hy Dr. R. W. Shufeldt 



such common species as the dandelions, asters, sunflowers, mari- 

 golds, and chrysanthemums. Very few of the species of Com- 

 positae, however, are represented in the spring flora, and hence 

 the following discussion will be limited to a single species. 



ACHILLEA MILLEFOLIUM (YARROW) 



The yarrow is a perennial herbaceous plant with leaves dis- 

 sected into narrow segments and with terminal flower clusters 

 in the form of compound corymbs. It is common in spring by 



