PLANTS GROWING IN WASTE SOIL. 317 



the lower one two-cleft. Corolla : two-lipped ; the standard large and over- 

 shadowing the other petals ; the lower lip, three-cleft. Stamens : four. Pistil : 

 one ; style, two-lobed. Leaves : opposite ; on petioles ; oblong ; smooth ; 

 veined. Stem : six inches high ; four-angled. 



How grateful the little self-heal must feel to the soft rain 

 that falls upon it when thirsty and dusty it tries to maintain its 

 reputation for cheeriness along the roadsides. And what a 

 wonderful transformation we see in the plant after it has been 

 so refreshed. But few flowers bloom at the same time in the 

 leafy spike and when examined separately they are found to be 

 very pretty. 



The common name of the plant refers to the kindly interest 

 it has always taken in the ills of mankind. It is a lover of the 

 people. Labourers apply it freely to their wounds and it has 

 been used as a never-failing cure for quinsy. 



JERUSALEH ARTICHOKE. WILD SUNFLOWER. 



Helidnthus tuberbsus. 



FAMILY COLOUR ODOUR RANGE TIME OF BLOOM 



Composite, Bright yellow. Scentless. Mostly south and west. All summer. 



Flower-heads : large ; flat ; terminal and composed of both ray and disk 

 flowers. The disk-flowers tubular, yellow or yellowish ; the rays bright 

 yellow. Leaves : on petioles, ovate ; triple-ribbed, hairy. Stem : five to seven 

 feet high ; branched above ; hairy. Rootstock : tuberous. 



This tall and beautiful species of sunflower has a fancy for 

 rearing itself by old fences, and peeping into the gardens. It 

 seems as though it could hardly resign itself to be severed en- 

 tirely from civilisation and domesticity. Its tubers are quite 

 large and edible. 



WILD SUNFLOWER. 



Helidnthus giganthus. 



Flower-heads : terminal ; solitary, and composed of both ray and disk flowers. 

 Involucre : of two series of bract-like pointed leaves. Leaves : alternate ; al- 

 most sessile ; lanceolate ; rough. Stem : upright ; branched above ; leafy ; 

 rough. 



