79 



In the Sunflower these rays are neutral, having nei- 

 ther stamens or pistil, Tn daisies and asters the pistil 

 and stamens are visible: these flowers or blossoms are so 

 close and compact in the head as often to be taken for 

 stamens. Some of these plants have a hairy or prick- 

 ly calyx. The thistle is a very good example of this 

 class, it is a well known plant growing in fields and 

 meadows, it grows to the height of two or three feet 

 and has a very rough stem and large deeply cleft leaves 

 which are hairy. The blossom consists of a beautiful 

 pink head, which when ripe has the appearance of a 

 large cotton ball. The seeds each have a share of this 

 cotton like substance, which serves to carry them far 

 and wide for the purpose of distribution to other local- 

 ities. Farmers usually try to banish them from their 

 premises, so in well cultivated regions but few are to 

 be seen while in wild districts, they are very abundant. 



The Dandelion is another specimen of this class, it 

 has not the rough prickly stem and leaves, but has the 

 soft downy head; the flower is a bright yellow. It is 

 one of the first to appear in the spring. When it 

 withers away the downy substance is revealed, when 

 fully grown it forms a round head of white, on a tall 

 hollow stem, when blown they separate into small par- 

 ticles and by means of the sailing apparatus attached 

 to each seed ascend into the air and will travel consid- 

 erable distance. The leaves and stem of this species 

 emit a milky juice when broken, and are sometime^s 

 used in making salad in early spring. 



