COMPOSITE FAMILY 



Flower-heads. — Radiate, two and a half to four inches across; in t3rpe 

 single, developing into semi-double and double forms. The disk in 

 Helianlhus rigidus is brown or purplish; in the others yellowish. 



Disk-florets. — Fertile, rays neutral. 



The garden race of Perennial Sunflowers is derived in the main 

 from three species: Helianthus decapetalus, native to the Alle- 

 ghany regions and New England as well as the Middle West; 

 Helianthus rigidus, and Helianthus Icetiflorus, Western forms de- 

 veloped in the Mississippi Valley, accustomed to heat and not 

 unacquainted with drought. All radiate composites under favora- 

 ble conditions increase the number of their rays, and these native 

 sunflowers have proved particularly amenable in that respect. 



Helianthus decapetalus in name apparently records that the 

 heads appear with but ten rays; this is a mistake, — they are fre- 

 quently numerous even in the type. The plant prefers moist soils; 

 ranges as far north as Quebec and as "far south as Kentucky. 

 Under cultivation it has given rise to the horticultural variety 

 multifldrus, whose garden forms differ mainly in the extent of 

 doubling, season of blooming, height and habit of the plant, and 

 size of the flower-head. Among the best of these are : fldre-plhnus 

 and grandiflbrus, both almost completely double; major with 

 very large flowers; mdximus with a large single flower having 

 pointed rays; Soleil d'Or with quilled florets. These multifiorus 

 varieties are deservedly the most popular of the sunflowers. 



Helianthus rigidus, naturally one of the dark-disked species, 

 bears showy heads on long peduncles, and under cultivation has 

 varied chiefly in the direction of doubling, and lengthening the 

 blooming period; many favorite varieties are referred to this 

 primitive: astivalis, grandiflorus, sSmi-pltnus, and Miss Mellish. 



Helianthus latiflorus is the parent of a very desirable garden 

 variety — semi-plenus — ^which keeps its half-double form with 

 very little care or attention. It is, of course, well understood that 

 all highly bred varieties, if grown on poor soil or neglected, revert 

 to type. 



The landscape gardener who is an artist and has space at his 

 command will often find that he can control results and produce 



4S8' 



