218 WILD FLOWER FAMILIES 
weed or Purple Boneset are among the most 
attractive blossoms in wet places and along the 
borders of marshes. This is one of the Com- 
posites having no ray flowers, so that the color 
effect is due to tubular florets and some rows of 
pinkish overlapping bracts belonging to the in- 
volucre that surrounds the flower-head. In bare, 
dry soil it may rise three feet, while in rich, moist 
soil it may reach three times that height. The 
flowers are freely visited by butterflies and bees. 
Its name is due to a famous Indian medicine-man 
in New England, who used in it his practice. 
Tron-weEep.. Another familiar flower of late 
summer and early autumn is the Iron-weed. This 
is easily recognized as a member of the great 
family of composite plants having no ray florets. 
Its purplish-red flower-heads are borne on short 
stems in such a way as to make broad clusters, 
on account of which the plant is called Flat Top 
in some localities. The flowers have a general 
resemblance to small thistle-heads and are freely 
visited by many bees and butterflies. s 
THE GOLDENROoDs. During. the weeks of late 
summer and early autumn the Goldenrods are the 
most effective members of Nature’s floral pageant. 
They cover the hills with a mantle of beautiful yel- 
low ; they light up the dark swamps with spots of 
glowing gold; they fringe the roadsides with 
tassels of inimitable grace; they dot the open 
