Nabalus. composite. 417 



4. Nakalus nanus, DC. Dwarf Nabalus. 



Smooth ; stem simple (low); leaves on slender petioles, varying from undivided and angular 

 or toothed, to hastately or palmately 3-lobed or 3-parted ; heads clustered, forming a strict 

 racemose panicle ; involucre (blackish green) 10 - 13-flovvered ; inner scales about 8, rather 

 obtuse ; the calyculate scales very short, triangular-ovate, appressed ; pappus dark straw- 

 color. — DC. prodr. 7. p. 241 ; Torr. ^- Gr. Jl. N. Am. 2. p. 482. Prenanthes alba, var. 

 nana, Bigel. jl. Bost. p. 286 ; Torr. compend. p. 277 (partly). Harpalyce alba, /3. Beck, 

 hot. p. 167. 



Stem 5-12 inches high, smooth. Lower leaves usually 3-parted or hastately 3-lobed, 

 the segments entire or 2 - 3-cleft ; tiie middle and higlier ones 3-lobed, with the segments 

 lanceolate or oblong and commonly entire, sometimes hastate-triangular ; the uppermost often 

 undivided. Sometimes all the leaves are undivided and hastate, or angular and toothed. 

 Heads nodding, in axillary and terminal clusters forming a close raceme. Involucre sliglilly 

 hairy at the lips ; the interior scales 4-5 times longer than the calyculate scales at the base. 

 Flowers whitish. 



Summit of Mount Marcy, Essex county. Fl. August. 



' 5. Nabalus Boottii, DC. Boott's Nabalus. 



Stem simple (low), pubescent at the summit when young ; radical and lowest cauline leaves 

 subcordate or hastate-cordate, obtuse, the middle oblong, the upper lanceolate and mostly 

 entire, all peliolate ; heads in a nearly simple raceme ; involucre (livid) 10 - 18-flowered ; 

 the inner scales 10 - 15, obtuse ; the calyculate scales linear, lax, nearly half the length of 

 the proper involucre ; pappus straw-color. — DC. prodr. 7. p. 241 ; Torr. <^ Gr. fl. N. Am. 

 2. p. 482. Prenanthes alba, var. nana (in part) ; Bigel. jl. Bost. p. 286. 



Stem 5-8 inches high. Leaves variable as in the preceding species, but not so much 

 divided. Heads slightly nodding. Scales of the involucre very obtuse, pubescent-ciliate at 

 the tips when young. Flowers whitish, " odorous " ( Tuckerman). 



Summit of Whiieface mountain, Essex county {Mr. Macrae). Fl. August - September. 

 This species is most readily distinguished from the preceding, with which it was once con- 

 founded, by the narrow loose and elongated calyculate scales of the involucre. 



51. TARAXACUM. Haller ; DC. prodr.7. p. U5. ' DANDELION. 



[From the Greek, tarasso ; in allusion to its medicinal properties.] 



Heads many-flowered. Involucre double ; the exterior of small scales ; the inner in a single 

 series. Receptacle naked. Achenia oblong, ribbed or angled, muricate on the ribs ; the 

 apex abruptly produced into a long stipe-like beak, which supports the pappus of copious 

 white capillary bristles. — Stemless perennial herbs, with simple fistulous naked scapes. 

 Leaves usually sinuate-toothed, or runcinate. Head solitary, large. Flowers yellow. 

 [Flora.] 53 



