236 Composite So lidago. 



few, uniseriate. Pappus in one series of rigid scabrid bristles. 

 The name is unexplained. 8. Virgaurea, Golden Eod, is a 

 native representative of this genus ; but some of the North 

 American species are more ornamental, as 8. Canadensis, S. 

 Icevigata, 8. rigida, and 8. altissima, all tall-growing plants 

 and only admissible in shrubberies and by-places. 



Linosyris vulgaris, Goldilocks, is a rare indigenous plant of 

 close affinity. It grows about 18 inches high, and is densely 

 clothed with linear glabrous entire leaves. Flower-heads small, 

 corymbose ; florets all tubular, 5-eleft, yellow. 



12. BlCCHARIS. 



A very large genus of American plants, containing many 

 shrubby and arborescent species of very diverse habit, readily 

 distinguished from allied genera by their dioecious flowers. 

 Although there are some 200 species, only one is in general 

 cultivation. Many of the species are resinous and strongly 

 scented, and this name, of Greek origin, was applied to some 

 resinous shrub. 



1. B. halimifblia. Groundsel Tree. A shrub from 6 to 12 

 feet high with angular branches and obovate or oblong-cuneate 

 coarsely-toothed scurfy leaves very much resembling those of 

 some Chenopodiacece. Flower-heads small, yellow. The female 

 is the handsomer plant of the two, from its conspicuous silvery 

 pappus. This flourishes near the sea. 



13. DAHLIA. 



This popular genus is characterised by having a double 

 involucre, no pappus, and a large scarious bracteole at the base 

 of each floret. It was named in honour of a Swedish botanist 

 named Dahl, and contains probably not more than half a dozen 

 species, all of which are natives of Mexico. 



1. D. varidbilis. Common Dahlia. This appears to be a 

 variable plant in nature, and has received several names sup- 

 posed to indicate distinct species, but they are now generally 

 united under the above designation. There were two tolerably 

 distinct forms originally introduced : one, frustranea, in which 

 the outer involucral bracts are spreading; and the other, super- 

 flua, having them reflexed and also producing seed more freely. 

 The latter variety was introduced into this country as early 

 as 1789 by the Marchioness of Bute, but soon lost, and not 



