326 FLOWERS OF FIELD, HILL, AND SWAMP 



The former is common in New England, the latter from Mas- 

 sachusetts southward, near the coast. 



46. Vanilla Plant 



Trilisa odoratfssima. — Family, Composite. Color, purplish. 

 Leaves, large, entire, light green, thick, the upper clasping. 

 Time, autumn. 

 Heads, without rays, small. Flowers, in flat clusters. 



The odor of vanilla is given out by the crushed leaves. 

 A plant belonging to the pine barrens of New Jersey and 

 southward. 



47. Silver-rod 



Solidago bicolor is the only white golden-rod, although a 

 variety of the Virgaurea is found near the White Mountains, 

 with rays so pale as to be almost white. The bicolor is usu- 

 ally taken for an aster. The flowers, cream-color rather than 

 pure white, grow in clusters up and down the simple wand-like 

 stem. The plant is grayish, with a fine, hairy growth. The 

 leaves are partially serrate, with short petioles. 



48 



^. cbncolor is a yellow variety that grows in the same way, with 

 flowers clustered in the leaf-axils. The rays only are yellow, 

 and the disk is light-colored. 



49 



S. cahia is a common golden-rod. It is late in flowering, 

 delicate, graceful, upright, with pale flowers closely clustered 

 along the stem. The leaves are long, narrow, serrate, feather- 

 veined. 



50 



S. specibsa is also a late bloomer. Its leaves are a polished 

 dark green, the lower with margined stalks. The stem is tall, 

 3 to 6 feet, and is crowned with a splendid, ample panicle of 



