GOLDEN RODS 261 
rayed ; small but numerous, arranged in scorpioid cymes. The ray- 
florets are female or neuter ; the central or disk-florets are tubular, five- 
_ lobed, and_ bisexual. Pappus-hairs rough in one or two series. The 
_ Species are natives of the Arctic and North Temperate regions, though 
most of them are confined to North America. One species is British. 
Like many other genera that comprise native species 
a of an ornamental character there is every probability that 
such native species have been cultivated from the early days of 
ing; especially when, as in the present instance, the plant had 
(1648). S. mexicana followed in 1683, and was quickly succeeded 
(1686) by S. rugosa under the name of altissima. SS. odora, 8. senuper- 
virens, and S. levigata all made their appearance here in 1699. . 
lanceolata dates from 1758, S. speciosa from 1817, and S. Drummondii 
only from 1885. Many others have been introduced and have had a 
trial in the garden, but very few species are now grown except in 
| cottage-gardens and shrubberies. This is due to their rather coarse 
habit and the fact that they spread too quickly and impoverish the soil. 
Cicsce SOLIDAGO CANADENSIS (Canadian). Stems covered 
; with rough hairs, 3 to 6 feet high. Leaves lance-shaped, 
sharply toothed, rough above, downy below. Flower-heads with short 
rays, crowded in large panicles; August. Plate 127. 
S. DrumMonpi (Drummond’s). Stems downy, 1 to 3 feet high. 
Leaves oval, coarsely toothed, velvety beneath. Flower-heads small, 
_ Fays short; cymes short, panicled ; July and August. 
: S. LANCEOLATA (lance-shaped). Stems 2 to 3 feet high ; upper part 
downy. Leaves slender-lance-shaped, not toothed, rough above. 
Flower-heads in dense corymbose clusters ; September. 
S. SPECIOSA (showy). Stems stout, smooth, 3 to 6 feet high. 
Leaves oval, thick and rough, slightly toothed ; upper ones lance-shaped. 
Flower-heads large, the crowded, erect cymes forming a somewhat 
pyramidal large panicle; October. 
S. VIRGAUREA (gold rod). Stems erect, 4 inches to 2 feet, downy 
with curled hairs, or smooth. Leaves slender or lance-shaped, faintly 
toothed. Flower-heads crowded ; July to September, 
Cultivation,  S0lidagos succeed in any soil, and should only be 
ee grown where there is plenty of room, so that they may be 
out of the way of small plants. They are useful for massing in rough 
_ round, or in the front row of a shrubbery. If planted in the border they 
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