5. P. Mainénsis, Gray. Stem 2° high, leafy; leaves as in n. 2, but the radical ovate and more abruptly narrowed to the short petiole; heads persistently drooping on slender pedicels.—St. John's River, N. Maine (Pringle). Perhaps a hybrid between n. 2 and 7.
[*][*][*] Heads 5–18-flowered, racemose or paniculate, commonly pendulous; leaves variable, mostly petiolate, the lower cordate or truncate or hastate at base.
[+] Involucre cylindrical; scales scarious-margined, the outer very short, appressed.
[++] Pappus reddish-brown; stem tall, generally purplish.
6. P. álba, L. (White Lettuce. Rattlesnake-root.) Smooth and glaucous (2–4° high); stem corymbose-panicled at the summit; leaves angulate or triangular-halberd-form, sinuate-toothed or 3–5-cleft, the uppermost oblong and undivided; involucre (purplish) of about 8 scales, 8–12-flowered. (Nabalus, Hook.)—Borders of rich woods; common, especially northward.
[++][++] Pappus dirty straw-color or whitish; leaves very variable.
7. P. serpentària, Pursh. (Lion's-foot. Gall-of-the-earth.) Nearly smooth; stem corymbose-panicled at the summit, commonly 2° high; leaves mostly deltoid, roughish; the lower variously 3–7-lobed, on margined petioles; the upper oblong-lanceolate, mostly undivided, nearly sessile; involucre (greenish, rarely purplish, sometimes slightly bristly) of about 8 scales, 8–12-flowered; flowers purplish, greenish white, or cream-color. (Nabalus Fraseri, DC.)—Dry sandy or sterile soil, New Eng. to Va., and southward.
Var. nàna, Gray. Stem more simple and strict, 6–16´ high, smooth and glabrous; inflorescence contracted, the clusters often sessile in most of the axils. (Nabalus nanus, DC.)—Mountains of northern N. Eng. and N. Y., and northeastward.
8. P. altíssima, L. Smooth; stem tall and slender (3–7° high); the heads in small axillary and terminal loose clusters forming a long and wand-like leafy panicle; leaves membranaceous, all petioled, ovate, heart-shaped, or triangular, and merely toothed or cleft, with naked or winged petioles, or frequently 3–5-parted, with the divisions entire or again cleft; involucre slender (greenish), of 5 scales, 5–6-flowered. (Nabalus, Hook.)—Rich moist woods; N. Eng. to Minn., and southward in the mountains to Ga.
[+][+] Involucre campanulate-oblong; secondary basal scales 2–3, linear, loose.