BUTTER-BUR 607 



in dense panicles. The fruit consists of two roundish, smooth, 

 black carpels with a single seed in each. 



The plant is met with in dry sandy and chalky meadows, and 

 is said to curdle milk like rennet when placed in it. 



COMPOSITE.— Common Daisy (Bellis perennis L.).— A well- 

 known perennial with rosettes of spathulate leaves close to the 

 ground on a short prostrate rhizome. The roots are fibrous. 



If not very carefully done spudding tends to propagate the 

 weed, as the branches of the short rhizome break off and become 

 separate plants. 



On closely-cut lawns and poor fields it is often abundant ; on 

 good ground the taller plants cut off the necessary light and aii 

 for its growth, and smother it. The most efficient plan of re- 

 ducing it is to encourage grasses to grow by mowing seldom and 

 by good manuring. 



Ox-eye Daisy (Chrysanthemum Leucattihemum L.). — A per- 

 ennial with erect simple or branched stems bearing a large solitary 

 flower head, resembling the common daisy, but abqut x| or 2 

 inches in diameter. The leaves are spathulate or oblong with 

 pinnatifid margins. 



The fruits or 'seeds' are ribbed (5, Fig. 199), and are a 

 common impurity of grass seeds. 



It is most frequently present on ground in poor condition : 

 a good dressing of manure usually greatly diminishes its 

 strength. 



Butter-bur {Petasites vulgaris Desf). — A perennial with ex- 

 tensive underground stout rhizomes. The leaves somewhat re- 

 semble those of rhubarb, and occasionally reach a diameter of 

 2 or 3 feet. They are covered with whitish cobweb-like down 

 on the under surfaces. The flower heads are arranged in a 

 cylindrical spike-like panicle, and, like those of coltsfoot, appear 

 in spring before the leaves ; the flowers are pinkish, the male and 

 female ones generally in different heads. 



Frequent in damp wet meadows, and near watercourses. 



