Sericocarpus
(from serikos, silken, and karpos, a fruit; alluding to the silky hairs on the achenes). White-topped Aster. ORD. Compositae. A genus comprising five species of hardy, erect, perennial herbs, natives of North America. Flower-heads mediocre or small, corymbose or paniculate; involucral bracts rather broad, in many series; ray florets white; disk pale yellow, rarely changing to purplish; achenes silky-pilose; pappus bristles copious. Leaves alternate, sessile, entire or serrated. For culture of the under-mentioned species, see Aster (under which they are erroneously classed in some garden works).
S. conyzoides (Conyza-like). Silk Fruit. fl.-heads sometimes solitary and pedicellate, but usually sessile in small clusters; involucre somewhat turbinate; pappus ferruginous. June to August. l. ciliated, glabrous beneath, veiny, rather firm, 1in. to 3in. long. h. 1ft. to 2ft. 1778. S. solidagineus (Solidago-like). fl.-heads small, glomerate at the extremities of the fastigiate peduncles; involucre cylindrical; pappus white. July to September. l. linear-oblanceolate or linear, obtuse, tapering to the base, entire, with serrulate-scabrous margins, obscurely dotted. h. 2ft. 1699.