COMPOSITE. 193 



Heads many-flowered, discoid, the flowers all tubular and 

 . fertile j the marginal pistillate with a slender corolla. In- 

 volucre cylindrical ; scales in a single row, linear, acute, 

 with a few small bractlets at the base. Achenia oblong, stri- 

 ate. Pappus copious, of very fine and white soft hairs. — 

 Erect and coarse annuals, with alternate simple leaves, and panicu- 

 late-corymbed heads of whitish Jlowers. 



E. hieracifolia, Raf. Fire-weed. Whipsiwog. 



Stem grooved, simple or paniculate above; Zsauescblong cr lanceolate, acute, cut- 

 toothed, sessile; upper auriculate at base and partly clasping. (Senicio hieracifo- 

 lia, L.) 



1st woods, and especially recent clearings, where the ground has been burnt 

 over, hence it is called Fireweed ; common. July — Sept. Stem 2 to 5 feet high, 

 etout, succulent, somewhat hairy, branching. Leaves light green large, irregular- 

 ly cut into many deep and acute teeth. Floivers terminal, crowded, destitute of 

 rays, white. Whole plant emitting when bruised a rank odor. The distilled oil 

 is probably one of the most powerful styptics the vegetable kingdom affords. 



49. CACALTA, Linn. Indian Plantain. 



An ancient name, of uncertain meaning. 



Heads 5 to many-flowered, discoied ; the flowers all tubu- 

 lar and perfect. Involucre scales in a single row, 5 to 

 30. Corolla deeply 5-cleft. Receptacle flat. Achenia 

 oblong, smooth. Pappus of numerous capillary bristles.-— 

 Smooth and tall perennial herbs, with alternate of ten peiioled leaves, 

 and rather large heads of mostly white or whitish jlowers, in flat 

 corymbs. 

 * Involucre 5-leaved and 5-flowered. 



1. C. RENiFORMis, Muhl. Great Indian Plantain. 



Stem grooved and angled; leaves potioled, smooth above, haii-y en the veins b»» 

 low; root-leaves broad-cordate, reniform, repand-toothed and angled, palmatcly 

 Teined; stem-leaves oblong, toothed, wedge-form and very entire at the base ; coin/ml* 

 large. 



Rich, damp woods. Aug., Sept. Stem 4 to 8 feet high, nearly simple, smooth. 

 Leaves 3 to 12 inches long by 5 to 8 inches wide, repand-dentate ; lower petioles verj 

 long. Involucre whitish. Heads white. 



2. C. ATRiPLiciFOLlA, L. Pale Indian Plantain. 



Stem erect, smooth, terete ; leaves petioled, smooth, glaucous beneath; lower leaves 

 deltoid-cordate, sinuate-angled, the upper rhomboid or wedge-form, toothed; involtt- 

 ere oblong. 



Moist rich woods. Aug., Sept. Stem 3 to 5 feet high, leafy, round. Lower leaves 

 4 to 6 inches long, and nearly as wide, on long petioles, unequally toothed. Meads 

 numerous, small, in a loose terminal corymb, greenish white. 



** Involucre 25 to ZO-flowered; receptacle flat. 



3. C. suavolens, L. Sweet-scented Cacalia. 



Stem grooved, erect, smooth ; leaves triangular-lanceolate, halbert-shaped, pointed,, 

 •errate; those of the stem on winged petioles, smooth; scales about 13; irtvolu&jt 

 with several slender spreading bractlets. 



B2 



