COMPOSITE FAMILY. 



171 



large corymbs. Scales of the involucre lance-linear, rather acute. Florets white. Akenes 

 smoothish. 



Low swampy grounds : throughout the United States. Fl. July - August. Fr. Sept. 



Obs. This species is so common in wet meadows, and low grounds, as 

 to be regarded rather as an objectionable weed. But it is chiefly en- 

 titled to notice for its medicinal properties, — being either emetic, ca- 

 thartic, or tonic— according to the dose, or mode of exhibition. 



There are several other species of this genus, which meet the eye of 

 the farmer in his meadows and along the borders of woods and thickets — 

 particularly a tall, stout one, with verticillate leaves and purple flowers, 

 (E. purpureum, L.) ; but they are scarcely of sufficient importance to 

 claim a place in this work. 



3. TUSSILA'GO, Tournef. Colts-foot. 



[Xame from the I^tin, Tussis, a cough ; for the cure of which the plant is used.] 



Heads many-flowered, those of the ray narrowly ligulate, pistillate, fer- 

 tile, in several series, the disk-flowers tew, staminate. Scales of the in- 

 volucre oblong obtuse, in nearly a single series. Receptacle flat. Fertile 

 achenia cylindrical oblong. Pappus capillary, copious in the fertile 

 flowers. A perennial herb with thick creeping root-stocks ; leaves radical, 

 appearing later than the scaly scapes ; flowers yellow. 

 1. T. Far'fara, L. Scapes single-flowered, imbricated with scales, woolly 

 when young ; leaves long petioled, cordate, angular-toothed. 

 Colts-foot. 



Root-dock widely spreading. Scapes about a foot high. Leaves which acquire their full 

 size after the lowering season, 3-5 inches in diameter, the margin irregularly lobed and 

 angular, smoothish above and white tomentose below. Heads of flowers about X of an 

 inch in diameter. 



Along streams : New England and Xew York. Introduced from Europe. March - April. 



Obs. The Colts-foot which is sometimes a troublesome weed in the 

 cultivated grounds of England, is perfectly established in the cooler por- 

 tions of our country. It is not introduced here on account of any impor- 

 tance it possesses with us as a weed, but for its popular, medicinal repu- 

 tation. It is one of those harmless plants which have long been con- 

 sidered as efficacious domestic remedies, and it is even cultivated in old 

 gardens. An infusion of the whole plant is used for coughs and pulmo- 

 nary complaints. It is probably about as valuable as any other mucilag- 

 inous drink, with some tonic qualities. The leaves have sometimes 

 been smoked for asthma. * 



4. ASTER, Toftrnef. Aster. 



[Greek, Aster, a star ; the radiated heads of flowers resembling stars.] 



Heads many-flowered — the ray-florets in a single series, pistillate, — those 

 of the disk tubular and perfect. Scales of the involucre more or less im- 

 bricated, usually whitish below and green or foliaceous at apex. Recep- 



