VEENONIA 



DAISY OBDEB 



AGEEATUM 493 



Sub-Oedbe. TUBULIPLOE^ 



The flower-heads either consist of entirely hermaphrodite tubular florets 

 with a regular 5- toothed corolla, or the central (disc) florets are tubular and 

 hermaphrodite, while the outer (ray) florets are strap-shaped (ligulate) and 

 female or sterile. 



Tribe I. Vernonib^. — Herbs, shrubs, or rarely trees. Leaves usually alternate, 

 entire, toothed, or very rarely lyrately cut. Flowers purplish, violet, or white, very 

 rarely blue, never yellow. Florets all tubular and hermaphrodite. Branches of the 

 style covered with bristles. 



V. prsealta. — This is also a native of 

 North America and is very similar to 

 V. noveeboracensis in appearance. It is, 

 however, much shorter, being only 3-5 ft. 

 high, and having smooth instead of downy 

 stems. The leaves are also smooth and 

 narrower, but the purple flowers are borne 

 in larger heads and appear somewhat 

 earlier, in August and September. 



Culture dc. as above. 



VERNONIA {Ironweed). — A large 

 genus of more or less downy herbs or 

 shrubs, usually with alternate, entire or 

 toothed, feather- veined, stalked or sessile 

 leaves. Flower-heads at the ends of the 

 branches, either solitary or in cymose 

 panicles, and usually purple, reddish or 

 blue, rarely white. 



Culture and Propagation. — Although 

 there are nearly 400 species of Vernonia, 

 only those mentioned below are of any 

 garden value ; and even these are more 

 suitable for semi- wild situations where they 

 have a picturesque effect. They flourish 

 in ordinary garden soil, but the flowers, 

 unfortunately, are often nipped by the 

 early frosts in September and October. 

 The easiest way to increase the plants is 

 by dividing the roots in spring as growth 

 is commencing. If this operation is per- 

 formed in autumn it is likely to interfere 

 with the production of flowers. Seeds 

 may also be sown in cold frames or in 

 gentle heat in spring, afterwards trans- 

 planting the seedlings m showery weather 

 when large enough for the open ground. 



V. novaeboracensis. — A stately North 

 American herbaceous perennial with 

 ribbed pm-plish downy stems 6-8 ft. high. 

 The shortly stalked, narrowly lance- 

 shaped leaves are 3-4 in. long, rough 

 and dark green above, paler beneath, and 

 with finely toothed margins. The violet- 

 purple flower-heads, each ^-f in. across, 

 appear in September and October, and are 

 borne in large corymbose panicles. 



Culture Sc. as above. 



STOKESIA (Stokes's Aster). — A 

 genus containing only one species : — 



S. cyanea. — A handsome vigorous 

 N. American perennial I3-2 ft. high, with 

 alternate, smooth, lance-shaped, entire 

 leaves, or somewhat spiny-ciliated at the 

 base; lower ones stalked; upper stem- 

 clasping. Flowers in August and Septem- 

 ber, blue, in heads about 1 in. across. 

 Involucre roundish, the outer florets 

 narrowly 5-cleft, scales prolonged into a 

 leafy bristly fringed appendage. 



Culture amd Propagation. — This 

 species grows freely in warm good sandy 

 soil and leaf mould and is effective in the 

 border. It may also be grown in pots for 

 the conservatory. It is increased by 

 division in spring, the slips being inserted 

 in sharp sandy soil in a warm border. 

 When well rooted they may be trans- 

 planted to flowering positions. Seeds 

 may also be sown in spring under glass or 

 as soon as ripe in autunm in cold frames. 

 The seedlings are pricked out into hght 

 soil when large enough, and are afterwards 

 transferred to the opeia border. 



Tribe II. Eupatorieje. — Herbs or shrubs, rarely trees. Leaves usually opposite, 

 or the upper ones, or all, alternate, rarely in whorls, entire, toothed, or rarely dissected. 

 Flowers rosy, purplish, bluish, or white, rarely yellowish-white or pale yellow, but 

 never true yellow. Florets all tubular and hermaphrodite. Branches of styles usually 

 club-shaped or enlarged at the tips. 



AGERATUM (FlossFlowbe).— This with opposite leaves and blue or white 

 genus consists of annual or biennial herbs flowers. Involucre of many imbricated 



