Wild flowers of the north-eastern states : $b Being three hundred and eight individuals common to the north-eastern United States
John Stuart Mill · en
The leaf is a long lance shape, pointed at the tip and broad at the
base, with a prominent strong midrib, the margin sparingly and sharply
toothed; of a firm texture, and smooth. The color is a medium green,
silvery underneath, the midrib light. It is set close upon the stalk,
slightly clasping it; the arrangement is alternate. The length of the
lowest leaves (sometimes 4 inches) decreases gradually, to that of a
tiny thread at the spring of the flower-stems.
The flowers are finely notched at the tip; of a bright pure yellow
color. The noticeably protruding two-tipped pistil is tawny-gray.
The flower-head is large and spreading; its green cup is smooth and
close-folded. The heads, on slender, downy, green stems, each of which
bears a single leaf, are arranged in a loose terminal cluster.
Like all the Hawkweeds the Canada loves not solitude, but grows in gay
encampment along a shaded road, where travellers welcome its strong
absolute yellow, that is yet tempered to pleasing softness of tint by
the many little gray pistils.
[Illustration: CANADA HAWKWEED: H. Canadense.]
*Tawny Hawkweed.* _Hieracium aurantiacum._
Found in June, in open fields and roadways.
The flower-stem rises from a rosette of foot-leaves; it bears one or
two leaves near the-ground, is slender, round, grooved, and hairy. The
hairs are dark enough to somewhat obscure the green color of the stem.
The leaf is long oval, with an irregular margin, and strong midrib; the
texture is coarse, and both upper and under surfaces are covered by
long gray hairs. The color is green, with a lighter midrib. One or two
leaves occur upon the flower-stems,--they are smaller than the others.
The tip of the slender “strap-shaped” flower is more finely fringed
than is usual with the Hawkweeds. In color an orange-red, or tawny,
rather dark in hue, while the pistil is bright yellow. The cup is
green, with many dark tawny hairs. The heads are set on short stems in
a terminal cluster.
This is the flower commonly known in England by the folk-name of “Grim
the Collier,” because of the dark and hairy aspect of its blossoms; the
hairs near the flower-heads are of noticeable length and modify their
color perceptibly. It is to be noted that the heads are composed of
fewer colors than most of the common Hawkweeds. The plumy seeds are of
a yellow-gray color and very pretty. Although the botanical calendar
places the flowering time of the Tawny in June, personal observation
has only noted it in the autumn; during middle September it is to be
found in full bloom in northern Vermont.
[Illustration: TAWNY HAWKWEED: H. aurantiacum.]
*Hairy Hawkweed.* _Hieracium Gronovii._
Found, in August and September, in dry pasture lands.