332 



NATURE-STUDV 



arate peduncle. The pistillate flowers have on the ovary 

 curious expansions, which later develop into large wings for 

 aiding in the distribution of the fruit. 



The flowers of many other trees are worthy of study. 

 Many are really vgry pretty when closely examined. Elm, 

 ash, birch, basswood, and the conifers are all generally dis- 

 regarded in na- 

 ture-study, but 

 should not be 

 neglected. Pu- 

 pils are else apt 

 to forget that 

 trees with such 

 inconspicuous 

 flowers are true 

 flowering plants. 

 Of course, such 



Fig. 131. Pistillate Flowers of Cottonwood. tFCeS aS haVP 



large, showy flowers will be studied anyway, as the apple, 

 plum, cherry, hawthorn, locust, horse-chestnut, etc. 



In the autumn wild asters, wild sunflowers, coneflowers, 

 coreopsis, golden rods, blazing stars, eupatories, thistles, and 

 still some belated dandelions are in bloom. They consti- 

 tute the chief glory of the early autumn in the fields, mead- 

 ows, waysides, and wood clearings. In our gardens we 

 have at this time cultivated asters, zinnias, dahUas, bache- 

 lor's-buttons, marguerites, daisies, gaillardias, cosmos, cal- 

 liopsis, and marigold. The golden-glows and common 

 tall sunflowers have probably gone to seed. All these 

 plants belong to a great family called the Composites, which 

 the pupils of the upper grades should not only learn 



