226 THE COMPOSITE FAMILY. [Eupatorium, 



purplish or white flowers in terminal corymbs. Receptacles without 

 scales. Florets all tubular and equal. Styles much exserted, with 

 long thickened or club-shaped branches. Achenes angular or striated, 

 with a pappus of simple hairs. 



A vast genus, chiefly American, with a few Asiatic species, one of 

 which is also our European one, the only British Composite with 

 opposite leaves, and florets not yellow. 



1. E. cannabinum, Linn. (fig. 497). Hemp Agrimony. — Rootstock 

 perennial, stems erect, 3 or 4 feet high. Leaves 3 to 5 inches long, 

 slightly downy, divided into 3 broadly lanceolate, coarsely toothed 

 lobes, sometimes again slightly lobed, a few upper leaves occasionally 

 simple and alternate. Flower-heads numerous, in compact terminal 

 corymbs, of a pale reddish purple. Involucres cylindrical, of very few 

 unequal bracts, and usually containing 5 florets. 



On banks and bushy places near water, throughout Europe and 

 central and Russian Asia, except the extreme north. Extends all 

 over Britain. Fl. summer. 



II. ASTER. ASTER. 



Herbs, usually erect, with alternate, entire or toothed leaves, narrow 

 linear in the British species. Flower-heads in terminal corymbs. 

 Involucral bracts imbricated in several rows. Outer florets not very 

 numerous, forming a purple or white spreading ray, but sometimes 

 -wanting, those of the disk tubular, 5-toothed and yellow. Branches 

 f>i the style somewhat flattened and pointed. Anthers without tails. 

 Achenes flattened with a pappus of many hairs. 



A very numerous North American genus, with a few species spread 

 over northern Asia, Europe, and some other parts of the world. Several 

 of the North American ones are known among the autumnal plants in 

 our flower-gardens under the name of Michaelmas Daisies. Our China 

 Asters belong to a nearly allied genus from Eastern Africa. 



Flower-heads usually radiate. Involucral bracts few, oblong . 1. A. Tripolium. 

 Flower-heads without rays. Involucral bracts numerous, narrow linear. 



2. A. Linosyris. 



1. A. Tripolium, Linn. (fig. 498). Sea A. — A glabrous perennial, 

 seldom above a foot high, erect or decumbent at the base, slightly 

 branched. Leaves linear, entire, somewhat succulent. Flower-heads 

 in a rather compact corymb, the involucral bracts few and oblong. 

 Florets of the ray purplish, numerous or few, and occasionally want- 

 ing, those of the disk longer than the involucre ; the pappus also 

 longer than the involucre. 



In salt-marshes, common in Europe and Russian Asia, except the 

 extreme north. Extends along the British coasts to the north of 

 Scotland. Fl. late in summer or autumn. 



2. A. Linosyris, Bernh. (fig. 499). Goldilocks. — A glabrous erect 

 perennial, 6 inches to a foot high, with numerous narrow linear, entire 

 leaves, more or less dotted. Flower-heads in a rather compact terminal 

 corymb, of a bright yellow, without any rays in this country, which 

 had induced older botanists to characterise the plant as a distinct 

 genus, but in Germany it has been found occasionally to bear the rays 

 of an Aster. Involucres imbricated, with numerous narrow bracts 



