44 



THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 



evident affiliations and then tries to determine their probable 

 causes. 



The botanist's business would indeed prove a fool's para- 

 dise, a happy hunting ground of useless shadows, did it con- 

 sist alone, as many suppose, in clapping long" names in dead 

 languages on very small plants. About it revoh^e many philos- 

 ophies and utilities and its interest is undying. Nomenclature 

 has its necessary and important place in the science, but it is 

 not the ''be-all and the end-all", here. 



Even as early as July, some of the goldenrods appear, 

 bloom and pass away before the more characteristic autumn 

 or late summer flowers put in an appearance. By mid-August, 

 their plumes, big or little, may be seen everywhere. The}^ vary 

 greatly in expression from spicate forms through racemose to 

 open, branching panicles. One species, Sol id a go bicolor, has 

 white rays and is often prettily called silver rod. 



Noticeable in swamps at this season is the Joe-pye weed 

 or purple thoroughwort {Eupatoriinn purpurcuin) . These are 

 tall and aspiring, with whorled, veiny, leaves and somewhat 

 flesh-colored flowers. Do not mistake them for swamp milk- 

 weed (Asclcpias iiicariiafa) , which often grows near them.. 

 The true thoroughwort, Eupatoriuin perforatum, has white 

 heads and as its name indicates the leaves appear to be pene- 

 trated by the stem axis of the plant. This results from oppo- 

 site leaves, which are sessile, uniting by their bases when in 

 the nascent condition. This plant is not a bad tonic in some 

 less serious ailments. 



AAdien speaking of the Compositae one should not omit 

 the eveilasting3 in their pure, penitential raiment. Several 

 species will be found of which the prettiest is the pearly im- 

 mortelle ( AnapJialis iiiargaritacca) , though a pink Gnaphaliiiin 

 is always showy. Florists often deform these lovely flowers 

 with blue or purple aniline, as if Nature did not know how to 



