320 PLANTS GROWING IN WASTE SOIL. 
cellent for coughs, or to strengthen the human system. In 
fact, it is one of the oldest known of the medicinal plants. 
CHAMOMILE. MAYWEED. 
Anthems Cétula. 
FAMILY COLOUR ODOUR RANGE TIME OF BLOOM 
Composite. White, centre yellow. Strongly scented. Mostly east. Late summer. 
Flower-heads : small; composed of ray and disk flowers similar to those of 
the white daisy. The disk-flowers arranged in a more decided cone and the 
twice pinnately-divided leaves mark the difference by which it may be known. 
“ Bring down the bag of chamomile leaves and put some to 
steep on the stove, Lambie, and trust me to know what will 
bring the roses back to your cheeks when the spring air makes 
you limpid and weak.” 
In some such phrase the virtues of chamomile have been 
sung throughout many generations. It has also been described 
by an old writer as the plant physician ; for a sick plant, when 
placed near it, will frequently recover. Insects, however, can- 
not abide it, in either a dried or powdered form ; and nightmare 
will not enter the portal when a piece of it is laid on the pillow 
beside a troubled sleeper. 
It is a bold little plant and often ventures even into the ruts 
made by heavy wagons in country roads. 
IRON-WEED. (Pilate CLX/Z) 
Verndénia Noveboracénsis. 
FAMILY COLOUR ODOUR RANGE TIME OF BLOOM 
Composite. Reddish purple. Scentless. Maine to Virginia August, September. 
and westward. j : 
Flower-heads: loosely clustered in corymbs on axillary flower-stalks and 
composed of tubular flowers. Znvolucre : of pointed purplish scales similar to 
those of the thistle. eaves: lanceolate; netted-veined ; rough. Stem: tall; 
leafy ; angled; crisp. : 
There is just a little rivalry between the iron-weed and some 
of the members of the aster family, and we often find them 
disputing the possession of the roadside banks. Usually the 
asters come out victorious, and the iron-weed is then driven to 
seek refuge in the low meadows, where it begins the same feud 
over again with Joe-Pye-weed. It is a handsome, brilliant 

