Composite family. 



Burdock. Arctium Lappa. 



Found, during August and September, along roads and in barren 

 fields. 



The stalk branches much, and is very leafy, with a bushy habit of 

 growth, between 2 and -i feet in height ; it is large, stout-flbred, round, 

 grooved, and rough to the touch. The color is light green, showing the 

 red-purple tints of the flowers in streaks, especially at the junction of 

 the stems. 



The leaf is very large ; the foot-leaves (often over 12 inches long) 

 are rudely heart-shaped, and much puckered or fulled on the midrib, 

 the upper leaves are smaller, and oval ; the ribs show underneath in 

 bold relief, the veins being like a strong network ; the margin is entire, 

 the texture coai-se, and the surface rough. The color is gray-green, 

 lighter underneath, while the midrib is pink above, and paler beneath. 

 The leaves are set on stout, trough-like, reddish stems, which clasp the 

 stalk ; the arrangement is alternate. 



The flower is very small and silky, crowded into a soft tuft, en- 

 closed in an urn-shaped burr, which is armed with row upon row of 

 sharp out-spreading spines, long, hooked, and stickjr. The color of the 

 heads varies, from nearly white, to a deep rose-purple, or blue-purple ; 

 the burr is green, or purple. The heads are set on short stems in irregu- 

 lar terminal groups, or on the short branches. 



As the flowers mature thread-like white pistils push forth ; they 

 open first on the rim of the head. Ranking a pest among flowers, the 

 Burdock is loved by children for its sticky burrs from which they 

 fashion variegated toys. Designers would do well to study its bold 

 finely arching leaves. " So if you please we will take a leaf of burdock, 

 the principal business of that plant being clearly to grow leaves, where- 

 with to adorn foi'egrounds." — Ruskin. 



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