198 FLOWERS OF FIELD, HILL, AND SWAMP 



52. Fireweed 



Erechfites hieracifblia.— Family, Composite. Color, green- 

 ish white. Leaves, lance-shaped or oblong, toothed, sessile, 

 those above having eared bases. Time, August, September. 



A coarse plant with grooved stem and leaves of various shapes 

 and sizes, growing tall (6 feet or less) and erect. The heads of 

 flowers are flat or elongated in their arrangement, and the seeds 

 give rise to many large, soft, fine hairs. This plant springs up in 

 vast numbers over burnt districts, filling the air with its white, 

 filmy, cobwebby pappus when the seed is ripe. This is caught 

 everywhere on fences and trees, blocking window- screens and 

 dusting clothing. There is no beauty in the plant, and it has a 

 rank, disagreeable odor. 



53. Mayweed 



inthBirtis Cotula. — Family, Composite. Color, white rays> 

 yellow disks. Leaves, finely, thrice dissected, scented with the 

 odor of chamomile mingled with tansy. Time, summer. 



Both ray and disk flowers present. This is the maruta of 

 older editions, a common daisy-like plant found along sandy 

 roads. The heads of flowers terminate the branches in single 

 blooms. The involucre scales are bordered with white. 



54. Succory, or Chicory 



Cichbrium Iniybus. — Family, Composite. Color, blue, dark 

 or pale. Leaves, those on stem oblong or long and narrow, 

 partly clasping. The lower ones deeply cut, with segments 

 turned backward. Time, late summer. 



A showy plant, but often ragged and covered with dust. 

 There are 2 or 3 heads of flowers on the ends of branches or 

 in axils of small, lance-shaped leaves. The rays or " straps " 

 of the flower are conspicuously toothed. The flowering stems 

 are rigid, rather coarse. 



