228 THE COMPOSITE FAMILY. [Erigeron, 



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 E. 

 alpinus, much larger and fewer than in E. canadensis. 



2. E. alpinus, Linn. (fig. 501). Alpine E.~ Stock perennial, with 

 erect or ascending hairy stems, 2 to 6 or rarely 8 inches 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 E. acris, except that the outer pink or purplish ones are longer, 

 more decidedly ligulate, forming a distinct spreading ray. E. unifiorus, 

 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 E. — 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. Fl. 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 Inula 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 



