230 | ‘THE COMPOSITE FAMILY, [Solidago. 
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 j 
over central and northern Asia and Europe. It differs from Aster in the - 
yellow rays and cylindrical achenes, from Jnula in the fewer ligulate florets, 
besides the microscopical but constant character derived from the style and 
tailless anthers. 
1. S. Virga-aurea, Linn. (fig 501). Common Goldenrod.—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 brightyellow, 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 Britain. 
Fl, summer and autumn. 
Several North American species have been long cultivated in our flower- 
gardens, and among them the S. lanceolata is said to have occasionally 
established itself in their vicinity. 
V. BELLIS. DAISY. 
Low herbs, with alternate or radical, entire or toothed leaves. Flower- 
heads solitary, on radical or axillary peduncles, with a yellow disk and 
white or pink ray. Involucre hemispherical, with many bracts of equal 
length, in about two rows, and green, not scarious, at the tips. Receptacle 
conical, without scales. Achenes bee eel Sat without any pappus. Style | 
nearly that of Aster. 
A small genus, extending over the temperate regions of the northern 
hemisphere. 
1. B. perennis, Linn. (fig. 502). Common Daisy.—Stock perennial, 
tufted. Leaves radical, obovate or oblong, slightly toothed. Peduncles 
also radical, leafless, bearing single flower-heads. Involucre green, nearly 
glabrous. Florets of the ray ligulate, white or tinged with pink; those of 
the disk numerous, small, and tubular. 
In pastures, common throughout Europe, except the extreme north, but 
apparently not extending eastward beyond the Caucasus, nor ascending 
high into mountain regions. Abundant all over Britain. Fl. nearly the 
whole year round, : | 
VI. FILAGO. FILAGO. 
Annuals, covered with the grey or white cottony wool and with the 
narrow entire leaves of Gnaphalium. Flower-heads numerous, very small, 
sessile, in lateral or terminal clusters. Involucral bracts cottony outside, 
shortly dry, and scarious at the tips. Receptacle small, with a row of 
scales within the outer row of florets, but none in the centre of the head. 
Florets of the centre tubular, sometimes barren, those of the circumference 
more numerous, filiform, and fertile as in G'naphalium, the anthers, style 
and achene the same as in that genus, 
A genus Pt few species, widely spread over Europe and Russian Asia : 
