178 
CLASS SYNGENESIA. 
3d. Florets tvhulous^ without rays ; as boneset or thorough 
wort {Ewpatoriimi), 
262. Order Swperfltia. — ^The second Order presents us witn 
such syngenesious flowers as have the florets of the disk per- 
fect^ and those of the ray only jpistillate^ each pistil producing 
a perfect seed. The pistils in the ray, being unaccompanied 
with stamens, are considered as superfluous. 
This order is divided into two sections. 1st. Flowers witJir 
out rays^ or the ray florets indistinct ; here we And the tansy 
and the life-everlasting. The Artemisia, a genus which in- 
cludes the wormwood and southern-wood, both exotics, has but 
few native species. The name Artemisia is often improperly 
given to an ornamental plant which belongs to the genus Ohry- 
Banthemum. " The genus Artemisia was named in honor of 
Artemis, the wife of Mausolus., whose monument was one of 
the wonders of the world (hence our word Mausoleum). Pliny 
observes, that women have had, also, the glory of giving names 
to plants."* 2d. Flowers with ligulate petals forming rays, the 
receptacle being naked, as may be seen on the dandelion after 
the petals have fallen ofi:'. The Aster genns contains numerous 
species which blossom late in the summer and autumn. Many 
of these species are highly beautiful, presenting a great variety 
of rich and delicate coloring, from the dark blue, purple, and 
red, to pale blue, light violet, and pink, and in many cases pure 
white. In some the yellow prevails ; sometimes they are varie- 
gated, and often the disk and ray are of different colors. After 
having once become familiar with the Aster genus it is easy to 
distinguish it, though often difficult to determine the species ; but 
comparison and research strengthen the mind, and the greater the 
difficulties overcome, the greater will be the mental advantage. 
Kearly allied to the aster is Chrysopsis, with corymbs and yellow 
flowers. In this class and order is found the African marigold 
(Tagetes), a Mexican genus ; two species are distinguished by 
five permanent florets in the ray. The Zinnia has much the 
look of Tagetes, but has an imbricated, round-scaled calyx, and 
five or more remarkably persistent, broad rays. The golden-rod 
(SoLiDAGo) consists of many species ; in some, the flowers are 
arranged in one-sided racemes, in others they form small and 
irregular clusters. The species are in many cases faintly dis- 
tinguished. The genus Chbysanthemum contains the common 
daisy, sometimes called ox-eye ; it also includes many splendid 
foreign plants, mostly of Chinese origin. The Dahlia is at 
present a favorite with florists who enumerate many splendid 
varieties. 
• Tliorntan's British Flora. 
202. Order Superflua, how divided 7 — 1st eection — Artemisia — 2d sectioi;- - Aster — Golden-rod— 
thri'santbrraum— Dahlia. 
