228 | THE COMPOSITE FAMILY. 
in stature, in the number and size of the flower-heads, and of the florets 
of the ray, but these are always smaller and more numerous than in JZ. 
alpinus, much larger and fewer than in LZ. canadensis. 
2. EK. alpinus, Linn. (fig. 501). Alpine #.—Stock perennial, with 
erect or ascending hairy stems, 2 to 6 or rarely 8inches high. Radical 
leaves oblong-lanceolate, tapering at the base; stem-leaves smaller, 
few, and lanceolate. Flower-heads solitary, or rarely 2 or 3 in a loose 
corymb, each one at least half an inch in diameter; the florets like 
those of £. acris, except that the outer pink or purplish ones are longer, 
more decidedly ligulate, forming a distinct spreading ray. £. wniflorus, 
Sm. 
In mountain pastures, in northern Europe, Asia, and America, to the 
_ Arctic regions, and in the higher mountain-ranges farther south. in 
Britain, confined to some of the eastern high mountains of Scotland. 
Fl. summer, rather late. 
3. E. canadensis, Linn. (fig. 502). Canadian #.—A stiff, erect 
annual, 1 to 2 feet high, glabrous, except a few long, spreading hairs. 
Leaves narrow, and entire or slightly toothed. Flower-heads very 
small and numerous, forming a long, narrow, leafy panicle. Florets 
minute, the outer ones filiform, scarcely longer than the involucre, 
white or slightly tinged with red; central ones tubular, yellowish- 
white. 
A native of North America, now established in the greatest abundance 
as a roadside weed in almost all temperate and hot countries, and 
appears occasionally as such in England. JF. summer and autumn. 
IV. SOLIDAGO. GOLDENROD. 
Herbs, usually tall, perennial, and leafy, with numerous rather small, 
yellow, radiate flower-heads. Involucres imbricate, in few rows. Recep- 
tacle without scales. Outer florets ligulate and few, inner ones tubular, 
all yellow. Style and anthers of Aster. Achenes cylindrical, with a 
pappus of many simple hairs. 
A considerable North American genus, with a single species spreading 
over central and northern Asia and Europe. It differs from Aster in 
the yellow rays and cylindrical achenes, from /nula in the fewer ligulate 
florets, besides the microscopical but constant character derived from 
the style and tailless anthers. 
Several North American species have been long cultivated in our 
flower-gardens, and among them the S. lanceolata is said to have occa- 
sionally established itself in their vicinity. 
1. S. Virga-aurea, Linn. (fig. 503). Common G.—Stock more or 
less tufted. Stems erect, stiff, nearly simple, 6 inches to 2 feet high, 
glabrous, or minutely downy. Radical leaves obovate and stalked, 
stem-leaves oblong or lanceolate, slightly toothed, shortly tapering at 
the base. Flower-heads crowded in a narrow-oblong terminal panicle, 
often leafy at the base, not large, of a bright yellow, each with a 
spreading ray of about 10 or 12 florets, and about twice that number of 
tubular ones in the disk. 
In woods, very common throughout Europe, and central and Russian 
Asia, and northern America, to the Arctic regions. Abundant in 
a 
