41 

 GOLDENRODS. 



Goldenrods and in fact all the 

 flowers on the following pages be- 

 long to that greatest of all plants 

 families, the Composites. These have 

 the small tubular flowers grouped in 

 large heads and frequently surround- 

 ed by conspicuous rays for the ex- 

 press purpose of attracting insect 

 visitors. The Goldenrod shown in 

 the opposite picture is Early Golden- 

 rod and is also quite similar to Can- 

 ada Goldenrod,, both of which spe- 

 cies are among the most abundant pf 

 this most prolific genus. Goldenrods 

 are very decorative and this species 

 is one of the most graceful of them 

 al^ the flowering spikes curving in the most artistic manner. 

 The flowers have eight or ten tiny golden-yellow rays. This 

 species is abundant along roadsides and in dry fields and 

 woods. 



LANCE-LEAVED GOLDENROD is easily recognized 

 because lance-shaped leaves are very closely crowded along 

 the stem and the flowers are grouped in a large flat-topped 

 cluster. This species is also occasionally known as Bushy 

 Goldenrod and again as Fragrant Goldenrod, the latter be- 

 cause the crushed leaves and flowers are quite fragrant. It 

 blooms very abundantly during the fall months in fields, 

 woods or along the roads. 



BLUE-STEMMED GOLDENROD is a rather slender 

 species with toothed leaves alternating along the whole 

 length of the stem and with short spikes of yellow flowers 

 growing from the axils of the upper leaves. The individual 

 flowers are larger than those of the proceding species and 

 have three to five comparatively long golden rays. This 

 species too is very common, especially so in woods. 

 SILVER-ROD or WHITE GOLDENROD, also a slender 

 species, with the flowers evenly clustered in an oblong ter- 

 minal spike, is the only one of the genus with white, or 

 rather creamy-white flowers. In fact it is so different from 

 the usual goldenrods that it requires more than a casual 

 glance to identify it as such. 



