Part 85 (1/2)

1. V. Arkansana, DC. Tall, rather glabrous; leaves linear-lanceolate, retrorsely denticulate; involucre very squarrose, the scales with long filiform tips.--Mo., Kan., and southward.

[*][*] _Heads ' high or less, 15--40-flowered._

[+] _Leaves narrowly linear, glabrous, veinless, mostly entire._

2. V. Jamesii, Torr. & Gray. Low, nearly glabrous; heads few-flowered; scales obtuse or acute.--Plains of Neb. and southward.

[+][+] _Leaves broader, mostly sharply denticulate or rigidly serrate, veined._

3. V. fasciculata, Michx. Leaves linear to oblong-lanceolate; heads many, crowded; scales close, obtuse or the uppermost mucronate; achene smooth.--Low grounds, Ohio and Ky. to Dak., and southward. Aug.

4. V. altissima, Nutt. Usually tall; leaves lanceolate or lance-oblong; cyme loose; scales close, obtuse or mucronate; achenes hispidulous on the ribs.--Low grounds, W. Penn. to Ill., and southward.--Heads variable, 2--4” high and the scales in few or many ranks; the var.

GRANDIFLRA, Nutt., with large heads, the involucre of 35--40 scales in many ranks.

5. V. Noveboracensis, Willd. Rather tall; leaves long-lanceolate to lance-oblong; cyme open; involucre usually purplish; scales ovate and lance-ovate tipped with a slender cusp or awn.--Low grounds near the coast, Maine to Va., west to Minn., E. Kan., and southward. Aug.

Var. latiflia, Gray. Leaves broader; heads few; scales merely acute or ac.u.minate.--Penn. to Ohio and southward.

6. V. Baldwinii, Torr. Tomentulose; heads small, at first globose; leaves lance-oblong or -ovate; involucre h.o.a.ry-tomentose, greenish, squarrose, the scales acute or ac.u.minate.--Prairies and barren hills; E. Mo. to Kan. and Tex. July, Aug. Pa.s.ses into n. 4.

3. SCLERoLEPIS, Ca.s.s.

Head discoid, many-flowered; flowers perfect. Involucral scales linear, equal, in 1 or 2 rows. Receptacle naked. Corolla 5-toothed. Achenes 5-angled; pappus a single row of 5 almost h.o.r.n.y oval and obtuse scales.--A smooth perennial, with simple stems, rooting at the base, linear entire leaves in whorls of 4--6, and a terminal head of flesh-colored flowers. (Name composed of s??????, _hard_, and ?ep??, _a scale_, from the pappus.)

1. S. verticillata, Ca.s.s.--In water; pine barrens, New Jersey and southward. Aug.

4. MIKaNIA, Willd. CLIMBING HEMP-WEED.

Heads discoid, 4-flowered. Involucre of 4 scales. Receptacle small.

Flowers, achenes, etc., as in Eupatorium.--Twining perennials, climbing bushes, with opposite commonly heart-shaped and petioled leaves, and corymbose-panicled flesh-colored flowers. (Named for _Prof. Mikan_, of Prague.)

1. M. scandens, L. Nearly smooth, twining; leaves somewhat triangular-heart-shaped or halberd-form, pointed, toothed at the base.--Copses along streams, E. New Eng. to Ky., and southward.

July--Sept.

5. EUPATRIUM, Tourn. THOROUGHWORT.

Heads discoid, 3--many-flowered; flowers perfect. Involucre cylindrical or bell-shaped, of more than 4 scales. Receptacle flat or conical, naked. Corolla 5-toothed. Achenes 5-angled; pappus a single row of slender capillary barely roughish bristles.--Erect perennial herbs, often sprinkled with bitter resinous dots, with generally corymbose heads of white, bluish, or purple blossoms, appearing near the close of summer. (Dedicated to _Eupator Mithridates_, who is said to have used a species of the genus in medicine.)

-- 1. EUPATORIUM proper. _Receptacle flat._

[*] _Heads cylindrical, 5--15-flowered; the purplish scales numerous, closely imbricated in several rows, of unequal length, slightly striate; stout herbs, with ample mostly whorled leaves, and flesh-colored flowers._

1. E. purpureum, L. (JOE-PYE WEED. TRUMPET-WEED.) Stems tall and stout, simple; leaves 3--6 in a whorl, oblong-ovate or lanceolate, pointed, very veiny, roughish, toothed; corymbs very dense and compound.--Varies greatly in size (2--12 high), etc., and with spotted or unspotted, often dotted stems, etc.,--including several nominal species.--Low grounds; common.

Var. am'num, Gray. Low; leaves fewer, ovate or oblong; heads few, 3--5-flowered.--Mountains of Va. and N. Y.

[*][*] _Heads 3--20-flowered; involucre 8--15 more or less imbricated and unequal scales, the outer ones shorter; flowers white._