3i8 PLANTS GROWING IN WASTE SOIL. 



This sunflower is our common species of the north and we 

 are familiar with seeing it along the roadsides, where it often 

 forms a most gorgeous hedge. 



H. mollis^ plate CLXI, is found from Ohio southward and 

 westward. It is one of the most beautiful of the family. 

 The leaves are heart-ovate, opposite and clasping, and the 

 whole plant is covered with a white wool, which gives it a misty 

 look. It is quite remarkable how well the coloured plate rep- 

 resents this effect. The plant is from two to four feet high. 



H. divaricatus has large showy flower-heads and opposite, 

 ovate-lanceolate leaves that are rounded at the base. It is 

 also partial to the roadsides and banks. 



H. annus is the garden species with which we are all familiar. 

 In Europe it is cultivated for its seeds, which are fed to 

 sheep, pigs and poultry. They are also the principal food of 

 parrots. 



According to the mythological tradition of the Greeks the 

 sunflower is none other than the fair water-nymph Clytie, who 

 was transformed into the flower. When she found that her 

 mad love for Apollo was not returned she grieved greatly, and 

 sat nine days upon the ground neither eating nor drinking but 

 watching intently the sun. Her head she turned gradually to 

 follow him as he travelled from east to west. At last her limbs 

 became rooted to the ground and her face became a sunflower. 



Even to-day the illusion is prevalent that the sunflower, the 

 emblem of constancy, turns its face to follow the course of the 

 sun. Moore alludes to it in — 



** The heart that has truly loved never forgets 

 But as truly loves on to the close 

 As the sunflower turns on her god when he sets 

 The same look that she turned when he rose." 



In ancient sculpture the sunflower has ever been a favourite 

 decoration, and especially has it been looked upon as sacred in 

 those countries that have worshipped the sun. 



