[+][+] Leaves broader, mostly sharply denticulate or rigidly serrate, veined.
3. V. fasciculàta, 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. altíssima, 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. grandiflòra, Nutt., with large heads, the involucre of 35–40 scales in many ranks.
5. V. Noveboracénsis, 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. latifòlia, Gray. Leaves broader; heads few; scales merely acute or acuminate.—Penn. to Ohio and southward.
6. V. Baldwínii, Torr. Tomentulose; heads small, at first globose; leaves lance-oblong or -ovate; involucre hoary-tomentose, greenish, squarrose, the scales acute or acuminate.—Prairies and barren hills; E. Mo. to Kan. and Tex. July, Aug. Passes into n. 4.
3. SCLERÓLEPIS, Cass.
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 horny 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 σκληρός, hard, and λεπίς, a scale, from the pappus.)
1. S. verticillàta, Cass.—In water; pine barrens, New Jersey and southward. Aug.