1212 CARDUACEAE 
somewhat outflung teeth; petioles slender: inflorescence lax and irregular, composed of 
short branches given off at a wide angle, often continued in clusters among the lower axils ; 
the upper axils often conspicuous with ovate or subcircular sessile bracteals : disks turn- 
ing reddish brown: rays shorter than in its ally, A. divaricatus L., from which it differs 
especially in its more straggling habit, narrow irregular inflorescence and less-coarsely 
toothed less prolonged leaves. 
In the mountains, Georgia. Summer. 
8. Aster fléxilis Burgess. Stem low, slender, smooth and virgate:  leaf-blades 
small, short, thin, dull, dark green, ovate-acute with the broad double-rounded base 
bisected by a deep sharp sinus ; margins crenate-serrate with low obscure teeth ; petioles 
short: inflorescence scanty, tuft-like, or of a few slim-peduncled heads: bracts narrowly 
linear, obtuse, quite uniform : plant almost destitute of hair (under lens); otherwise much 
as A. divaricatus L. Differs from A. Boykinii (with which it grows) especially in its 
smaller shorter dull leaves, the sharp sinus, crenate margins and obtuse bracts. 
In the mountains, eastern Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama. Late summer and fall. 
9. Aster multifórmis Burgess. Stem 3-6 dm. high, minutely glandular, erect, slender, 
terete, or angular-striate in drying: radical leaves usually 2, their blades large, cordate- 
oblong ; cauline leaves of several forms, their blades sharply serrate, rough above, minutely 
puberulent beneath, those of the lower ones ovate, acuminate, usually with a narrow sinus, 
those of the upper oval to ovate-lanceolate, petioled, the uppermost elliptic-lanceolate, ser- 
rulate, sessile or nearly so: corymb small, its branches upwardly directed : heads 30-40 
mm. broad: ray-flowers about 13; ligules rounded and retuseat the apex : bracts green : in- 
florescence-glands few, almost hidden by the minutely strigose pubescence of the peduncles. 
Resembles A. macrophyllus L.; but its leaves thinner, narrower, more polymorphous, with 
narrower sinus, and much less harsh ; glands fewer, smaller, pale, less continuous down 
the stem: inflorescence more level-topped, obconic when passed : rays bluer, though fading 
out early. 
In moist shaded places, Maine to New York, Pennsylvania and North Carolina. Summer and fall. 
10. Aster riciniàtus Burgess. Stem smooth, red, terete, often 3 dm. high: radical 
leaves usually two, unequal ; blades deltoid-cordate or ovate-cordate, with long low curves- 
cent or crenate teeth ; basal leaf smaller, the blade orbicular-ovate, without sinus; lower 
cauline leaves ovate in type, with slight broad open sinus ; the others lanceolate or oblong, 
with sessile tapered base ; leaf-margins dentate below, becoming sharp-serrulate above ; 
petioles slender or with narrow strap-like wings: inflorescence a small loose terminal tuft, 
with slender ascending pedicels: bracts uniform, lingual: rays rose-purplish and then 
transiently violet, soon turning whitish, linear-biacuminate. Plant very smooth and pale; 
much purplish-red occurs on stem and veins and especially along the bracts ; glandular- 
pubescence very short, with small capitate glands, continuing down the stem to the base ; 
strigose pubescence discoverable by lens on the upper leaves. Resembles A. multiformis ; 
but the whole plant smoother and paler, with more red and less violet’; leaves smaller, 
shorter, and often dentate ; bracts narrower and more uniform ; its colors neither sharp nor 
dull, but as if seen through a veil. 
In moist mountain woods, North Carolina, Late summer. 3 3 
11. Aster macrophyllus L. Stems 6-9 dm. high, reddened, angular: radical mie 
developed in large colonies, usually 3 to each rhizome, larger and coarser than the similarly 
shaped lower cauline leaves (which are developed a subsequent year from the eet 
rhizome); blades broad, cordate with a large irregular sinus, rough above, harsh, beg as 
teeth broad, curved, somewhat crenate : upper stem-leaves with oblong blades and sho 
broadly winged petioles, those of the uppermost sessile, acute: inflorescence strigose, a 
glandular, broadly corymbose, irregular: heads 15-30 mm. broad: peduncles short, rigid, 
thickish : ray-flowers about 12-16 ; ligules 10-14 mm. long, chiefly lavender, apr 
violet, or rarely pale: bracts conspicuously green-tipped, the outer acute, the inner 0 ong, 
obtuse: disk turning reddish brown. 
In moderately dry soil, in shaded places, Canada to Minnesota and North Carolina. vip ; 
12. Aster commixtus (Nees) Kuntze. Stem 5-6 dm. high, rather Joe sere 
lar-pubescent over the upper half and strigose above : leaf-blades rough, thick, A ag 
paler beneath, ovate-acute in type, low-serrate or with curvescent tenit, ani Hi “foal 
petioles ; only the basal leaves, if any, slightly cordate: upper leaves diminis is PRE 4 
lanceolate and sessile ; bracteals oval, small and few : inflorescence loosely corym sapit 
long-ascending pedicels : bracts narrow and acute or subulate, ciliate an ggi Ping 
ulent, the apex squarrosely recurved : rays pale violet becoming white: disk dinar 
copper-brown. From itscongeners A. mirabilis and the northern A. Hervey, ae gs capi- 
guished by the long acumination of its squarrose bracts ; and from A. mirabilis by 1 P 
tate glands. 
In dry woods, Georgia and Alabama, Late summer and fall. 
