i3D mviSlUlN UF COMPOLJND FLOWERS. 



are arranged in one-sided racemes, in another they form small and 

 txregular clusters. The numerous species are in most cases so 

 .aintly distinguished, as to require some patience and apphcationto 

 trace out the s)iecific differences. 



The genus Chrysanthemum contains the common daisy, some- 

 times called ox-eye; it also includes many splendid foreign plants, 

 mostly of Chinese origin. The Dahlia is at present a favourite with 

 florists, who enunierate nearly a hundred splendid varieties. 



Order Frustranea. 

 The tJiird Order has the disk florets perfect; those of the ray 

 are neutral^ having neither stamens nor styles, though an imperfect 

 seed is sometimes seen at the base of the florets ; the name Frustra- 

 nea alludes to this imperfect seed. We find here the Sun-flower, 

 (Heuanthos;) this is a very good plant to examine, as the organs 

 are large, and develop clearly the peculiar character of the class 

 Syngenesia. 



Fig. 143, a, represents the flower of the Coreopsis ; h, a floret of 

 the disk, with its bifid stigma above the tube formed by the united 

 anthers; c, shows a ray floret, which is neutral. 



In this order is the Centaurea benedicta, or blessed thistle, a na- 

 tive of Spain, which received its name on account of some extraor- 

 dinary virtues which it was thought to possess; it was esteemed a 

 remedy for the plague, with which warm countries are often afflict 

 ed. At present this plant is not much valued in medicine. 



Order Necessaria. 



The fourth Order includes plants in which the rays only are fer- 

 tile or pistillate, and the disk florets are hgrren or staminate. Wfc 

 find here the marygold, (Calendula.) 



Order Segregata. 



The fifth Order contains a few genera, with each floret having a 

 calyx proper to itself, besides a common calyx including the whole 

 of the florets which make up the flower; this may be called a 

 doubly-compound flower. The only plant of this order yet discov- 

 ered in the United States is the elephant 's-foot, (Eleprantopus.) a 

 low, hairy-leaved plant, with purple, ligulate florets. 



We have now completed a survey of the orders of the class Syn- 

 genesia, the plants which it contains are almost wholly referred to 

 the natural order Compositae or compound flowers : by Jussieu, they 

 are subdivided into the three following orders. 



Division of Compound Flowers by Jjissieu. 



1st, with florets all ligulate and perfect ; leaves alternate, having 

 milky juice; coroUas mostly yellow. This includes the dandeJioii 

 and lettuce. 



2d order includes all compound flowers with tubular corollas; with 

 receptacles fleshy and chaffy; egret stiff and bristly; leaves often 

 with harsh prickles; flowers in a head. This includes the thistle, 

 burdock, and false saffron. 



3d order includes such compound flowers as have their inflores- 

 cence clustered in a corymb ; as the life-everlasting, boneset, and 

 aster. 



The plants of the class Syngenesia are, in general, easily recog- 

 nised at the first glance; there is something about them besides their 



Chrysanlhemum — Dahlia— Order Frustranea— Sun-flower— Coreopsis— Blessed 

 thistle— Order Necessaria— Order Segregata— Elephant's foot— Order Compositffl — 

 Tussieu's division oS compound flowers. 



