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
[Illustration: LIFE EVERLASTING: Anaphalis margaritacea.]
*Everlasting.* _Gnaphalium polycephalum._
*Cudweed.*
Found in August and September, in dry fields, and open roadsides.
The stalk grows from 1 to 2 feet in height; it branches near the top,
and is leafy all the way, of a stiff fibre, with a woolly surface. The
color is green, the wool whitish.
The leaf is long, and narrow, with a strong midrib, and entire, or
slightly irregular, margin; the under surface is woolly. In color
gray-green, whitish underneath, because of the wool. The arrangement is
clasping, and slightly hugging the stalk; alternate.
The tubular flower is small, and gathered into a close tuft; of a dull,
light, tawny color, which turns darker with age. The tufted head is
held tightly within a deep cup, composed of many shining white sheaths.
The heads are set on foot-stems, in groups of 2 to 8, and arranged in
terminal clusters.
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.
[Illustration: EVERLASTING: Gnaphalium polycephalum.]
*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.
[Illustration: YARROW: Achillea Millefolium.]
*White Lettuce.* _Prenanthes alba._
*Rattlesnake-root.*
Found on the borders of rich woods in August and September.