CORNFLOWER 



Three smaller and less conspicuous species bloom along the 

 edge of the woods during September and October. One, Solidago 

 hicolor, stands from one to two feet high; a simple, upright stem, 

 with flower-heads clustered in the axils of the upper leaves forming 

 an interrupted spike. The rays are cream-color or nearly white, 

 the disk-florets yellow, so that Two-colored Golden-rod is an ap- 

 propriate name for it. 



Another, Solidago cahsia, in its variety axiMris is abundant. 

 The stem rises two to three feet high, usually simple; leaves thin^ 

 long-lanceolate, and in their axils all along the stem are little clus- 

 ters of bright-yellow flowers making a veritable Golden-rod. At 

 the summit is a little th3T:se. This species is said to have given 

 the common name to the genus. 



Solidago latifdlia will be found blooming in November. The 

 leaves are broadly ovate or oval, strongly serrate, and conspicu- 

 ously pointed. The heads are in very short axillary clusters. The 

 rays are only three or four, but large for a Golden-rod, and a 

 beautiful brilliant yellow. 



Other species are plentiful, but those mentioned are easily 

 recognized. 



CORNFLOWER. BACHELOR'S BUTTON. KAISERBLUME 



Centaurea cyanus. 



Centaurea, from Chiron, the Centaur; from the legend that Chiron 

 used this plant to heal the wounds of Hercules. 



The Cornflower of Europe, largely known in this country as Bachelor's 

 Button, is a favorite annual; grown principally for cut flowers; t3rpically 

 blue, but appearing in many colors. Midsummer. 



Stem. — Slender, branching, two to three feet high. 



Leaves. — Alternate, linear, acute, grayish with white, woolly hairs. 



Flower-heads. — Solitary, on slender stalks; composed of tubular 

 florets only, the outer row large and sterile, apparently taking the place 

 of ray-florets. 



Involucre. — Globular, hard, compact, of inany imbricated scales 

 whose margins are usually fringed. 



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