7. E. hyssopifòlius, Michx. Slightly pubescent, slender (6–12´ high), from filiform rootstocks; leaves short, very numerous, narrowly linear; branches prolonged into slender naked peduncles, bearing solitary small heads; rays 20–30, rose-purple or whitish. (Aster graminifolius, Pursh.)—Northern borders of N. Eng., L. Superior, and northward.
8. E. bellidifòlius, Muhl. (Robin's Plantain.) Hairy, producing offsets from the base; stem simple, rather naked above, bearing few (1–9) large heads on slender peduncles; root-leaves obovate and spatulate, sparingly toothed, the cauline distant, lanceolate-oblong, partly clasping, entire; rays (about 50) rather broad, light bluish-purple.—Copses and moist banks; common. May.
9. E. Philadélphicus, L. (Common Fleabane.) Hairy; stem leafy, corymbed, bearing several small heads; leaves thin, with a broad midrib, oblong; the upper smoothish, clasping by a heart-shaped base, mostly entire, the lowest spatulate, toothed; rays innumerable and very narrow, rose-purple or flesh-color.—Moist ground; common. June–Aug.
[*][*][*] Perennial by rosulate offsets, with scape-like stems; pappus simple.
10. E. nudicaùlis, Michx. Glabrous; leaves clustered at the root, oval or spatulate; scape leafless, slender (1–2° high), bearing 5–12 small corymbed heads; rays white. (E. vernum, Torr. & Gray).—Low grounds, E. Va. and southward. May.
27. BÁCCHARIS, L. Groundsel-Tree.
Heads many-flowered; the flowers all tubular, diœcious, i.e., the pistillate and staminate borne by different plants. Involucre imbricated. Corolla of the pistillate flowers very slender and thread-like; of the staminate, larger and 5-lobed. Anthers tailless. Achenes ribbed; pappus of capillary bristles, in the sterile plant scanty and tortuous; in the fertile very long and copious.—Shrubs, commonly smooth and resinous or glutinous. Flowers whitish or yellow, autumnal. (Name of some shrub anciently dedicated to Bacchus.)
1. B. halimifòlia, L. Smooth and somewhat scurfy; branches angled; leaves obovate and wedge-form, petiolate, coarsely toothed, or the upper entire; heads scattered or in leafy panicles; scales of the involucre acutish.—Sea beaches, Mass. to Va., and southward.—Shrub 6–12° high; the fertile plant conspicuous in autumn by its very long and white pappus.
2. B. glomeruliflòra, Pers. Leaves spatulate-oblong, sessile or nearly so; heads larger, sessile in the axils or in clusters; scales of the bell-shaped involucre broader, very obtuse.—Pine barrens, E. Va. (?), and southward.
28. PLÙCHEA, Cass. Marsh-Fleabane.