Part 39

When the ripened downy seed is ready to fly away, the closely folded little cups open wide. A full pleasant fragrance belongs to the blossoms.

*Yarrow.* Achillea Millefolium. *Milfoil.*

Found from July to September, in dry fields and roadsides.

The stalk, which is very erect in bearing, grows to be about 2 feet high usually; it is single, or branches near the top, and leafy; of a stout fibre difficult to pluck, round and grooved, and covered with wool which causes the green color to look whitish.

The leaf is long and narrow, deeply and finely cut into slender line-like divisions, these being also cleft 3 or 5 times which gives it a fringy appearance; with a strong midrib, and covered with white wool on the underside. The color is gray-green. It is clasping, and the arrangement is alternate, and often crowded into little tufts along the stems.

The flower is very small; pale brown, or bright cheese-colored yellow; crowded into a small thimble-topped head, and surrounded by 3 to 5 small, oblong, white rays, with finely notched tips. The head is held in a deep, pale green, or nearly white, cup, and set on a slender, leafy, white, or pale green stem. The heads are arranged in terminal clusters.

Generally the flower-cluster is noticeably flat-topped, even the small groups of the side branches strive to reach a uniform level with the central cluster. A friar-like gravity of hue shows this plant to be a typical New Englander, thriving with sturdy content on sterile soil, and sending forth a wholesome aromatic odor. In certain localities the rays are tinted pink, almost crimson.

*White Lettuce.* Prenanthes alba. *Rattlesnake-root.*

Found on the borders of rich woods in August and September.

The erect stalk, from 2 to 4 feet high, branches near the summit, and is leafy all the way; it is large, round, and smooth. Color, green, or frequently a dark, rich, purplish-red, with a bloom upon it.

The leaves are variable in shape and size; the root-leaves are large, often and deeply cleft, and set on a 3- to 5-inch stem; the lower leaves of the stalk are broad, faintly notched or 3-cleft; while the upper leaves are long and narrow, with entire margins. Their texture is thin (when dried, like paper in quality), and their surface smooth. In color, a dark cool green.

The flower-head is composed of 8 or 12 small “strap-shaped” blossoms hanging from a cup; they are cream colored, tinged with lilac; the cup is composed of 8 narrow, pinkish-gray parts; the stamens are noticeable because their tips split and curl spirally,--they are cream colored also. A few small bracts occur at the base of the flower-head, which droops on a small stem. The heads are arranged in little clusters springing from the angles of the branches and leaves.

As the flower-head matures, there may be found within its nodding cup a bunch of fine reddish hairs, like a sable paint brush,--later this opens into a downy seed tassel. The fine stalk gives the plant a distinguished appearance.

*Rattlesnake-root.* Prenanthes altissima.

Found during August and September on the edge of dark woods, and in damp places, that are shaded.

The stalk, often about 3 feet high, sometimes attains to more than man’s stature; it is very erect, branches only for flowers, is leafy, round, firm-fibred, and smooth. Green in color.

The root-leaves are large (2 or 3 inches in length), wedge-shaped, or 3- to 5-divided; the upper leaves are smaller, varying from a wedge or heart-shape to a long-pointed oval. They all have entire, or faintly notched margins, and the midribs, shining above, are rough beneath. They are set on stems, which are sometimes provided with narrow spreading margins; the arrangement is alternate, with a certain interval between.

The flower is small, “strap-shaped,” with a square notched tip; cream-white in color. 5 or 6 are included in a tubular cup, composed of a close-folded row of narrow, green or purplish, pale, leafy parts; these cups are set nodding on slight foot-stems, and arranged in small irregular groups, on short branches, which form a long, irregularly arranged terminal spike.

The blossoms are so small they are quite out of proportion to the height and strength of the stalk; their habit is scattering, and only a few heads open at the same time. The plant is most effective when all its stiff little downy seeds are spreading themselves for flight.

*Bur Marigold.* Bidens cernua.

Found through August and September in swampy grounds. It is very common, and grows from 1 to 5 feet in height.

The stalk is leafy and branching, large and tough-fibred, smooth, but grooved from the joints. The color is light yellow-green.

The long leaf is narrow, and tapering to a slender point; it is somewhat fulled upon the taut midrib, and the margin is irregularly notched, while the surface is smooth. The color is a strong yellow-green, lighter on the wide midrib. The leaves are opposite each other, and partly grown together about the stalk.

The small, tubular disc flower is dull tawny in color; the rays, usually 8 in number, are broad, and of a bright golden-yellow color. The large flower-heads are encircled by two rows of green, or greenish, bracts, the outer row being slightly twisted; they are somewhat nodding on short stems of equal length, and spring from the angles of the leaves.

The seed, armed with 4 stout prongs, and plentifully set with backward-pointing bristles, is familiarly known as “beggars’ tick” or “stick-tight,”--it never loses a chance to catch a ride on the clothes of the unwary passer-by. Its smooth grooved stem, swelling at the joint, is an interesting feature of this otherwise rather coarse plant.

*Rayless Marigold.* Bidens frondosa.

Found in August and September, lying in wait for travellers along roadside ditches and in wet fields.

The stalk, which grows any height from 2 to 6 feet, bears branches in pairs; is very leafy, and stout, round, coarse-fibred, and slightly shining. In color, purplish green.