290 YELLOW TO ORANGE 



altitudes. The Canada Golden-rod is perhaps the easiest one 

 to recognize, since it is the largest as well as the handsomest 

 of its tribe, and has big branching panicles of close-clustered 

 blossoms, very long, narrow, pointed leaves of a dull grayish- 

 green hue, and stout woody stems, which have a cottony 

 appearance and attain an average height of three feet. 



So numerous are the Golden-rods on this continent that it 

 is possible to note only a few of the more conspicuous species 

 which the traveller is likely to find and gather in the course 

 of his wanderings amid the great hills, where 



" Along the roadside, like the flowers of gold 

 That tawny Incas for their gardens wrought, 

 Heavy with sunshine droops the golden-rod." 



vS. decumbens^ or Field Golden-rod, has tall, stiff, wand-like 

 stems, which terminate in dense compact panicles of flowers, 

 and sparse, long, narrow leaves, with even margins. It is 

 very beautiful to walk across the alpine fields, where 



" The golden-rod lights slowly 

 Its torch for the Autumn blaze," 



and where the other fall flowers unite to celebrate the pass- 

 ing of summer in a riotous splendour of scarlet, purple, and 

 gold, and there revel in the sun-like smiles of these gay blos- 

 soms that illumine the landscape. 



.S. multiradiata var. scopiUorum^ or Northern Golden-rod, 

 is a coarser species with small loose clusters of rather large 

 deep yellow flowers, which terminate the leafy downy stems. 



"How deepening bright, like mounting flame, doth burn 

 The golden-rod upon a thousand hills. 

 This is the Autumn's flower, and to my soul 

 A token fresh of beauty and of life, 

 And life's supreme delight." 



5. Missouriensis, or Mountain Golden-rod, has a perfectly 

 smooth slender stem and short, broad, branching panicles 

 of yellow flowers. The leaves are thick and lance-shaped, 



