Tap. 8355. 
ASTER FaLconert. 
North-western [imalaya. 
Compositak. Tribe ASTEROIDEAE. 
Aster, Linn.; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant. vol. ii. p. 271. 
Aster Falconeri, Hutchinson in Gard. Chron. 1910, vol. xlvii. p. 398; affinis 
A, diplostephioidi, Benth., sed foliis radicalibus breviter petiolatis denti- 
culatis, caulibus ad apicem dense imbricatim foliatis, involucri bracteis 
2-3-seriatis valde imbricatis marginibus dense et longe pilosis et floribus 
disci flavis differt. 
Herba; rhizoma perennans. lia radicalia numerosa, oblongo-oblanceolata vel 
oblanceolata, inferne sensim attenuata, apice subacuta vel mucronulata, 
15-20 cm. longa, 4-5 cm. lata, tenuiter chartacea, remote denticulata, 
dentibus circiter 12 wm. distantibus, nervis lateralibus utrinque 6, supra 
paulo immersis subtus leviter elevatis, nervis transversis paucis cum costa 
subparallelis. Caulis monocephalns, ad apicem dense foliatus, circiter 
40cm. altus. Folix caulina lanceolata ad apicem acutum sensim acuminata 
basi rotundata et semiamplexicaulia, majora 8 em. longa, 3 em. lata, minora 
4 cm. longa, 1 em. lata, integra, utrinque parce pubescentia. nervis latera- 
libus utrinque circiter 5 e costa crassa ascendentibus. Capitulum bracteis 
foliaceis exterioribus 4 cinctum, 9 em. diametro. Jnvolucri bracteae sub- 
3-seriatae, exteriores virides, lineari-lanceolatae, acutae, circiter 2 cm. longae 
et 3 mm. Jatae, extra dense pilosae, intus glabrae, interiores leviter pube- 
scentes, margine paullo scariosae, apice filiformes. lores radii numerosi: 
tubus 2°5 mm. longus, viridis, adpresse pilosus; lamina linearis apice 
trifida, 4 em. longa, 2°5 mm. lata, basin versus albida, ceterum subeoerulea ; 
stylus exsertus; achaenia subcylindrica, 3 mm. longa, 1 mm. diametro, 
parce pilosa; pappus biseriatus, externus tenuis et paleaceus, lineari- 
lanceolatus, acutus, 2°5 mm. longus, minute serrulatus, internus filiformis 
6 mm. longus, minute barbellatus. vores disci aurantiaci; tubus 5 mm. 
longus, in medio dilatatus et pilosus, ceterum glaber, inferne albo-viridis ; 
antherae 2°5 mm. longae; pappus ut in floribus radii; achaenia 3 mm. 
longa, subquadrangularia, parce pilosa; stylus exsertus, lobis 1 mm. 
longis.— A, diplostephioides, var. Falconeri, C. B. Clarke, Comp. Ind. p. 45.— 
J. Horcninson. 
The handsome Aster here figured is a native of the 
mountains which surround the Valley of Kashmir, reaching 
its western limit, so far as available specimens go, in the 
Kari Pass leading from the Kishn Ganga Valley south- 
east of Gilgit; it has not yet been found to the east of the 
Sutlej. Originally considered identical with Aster diplo- 
stephioides, Benth. a native of Sikkim and Eastern Nepal, 
figured at t. 6718 of this work, our plant was first 
recognised as distinct by the late Mr. C. B. Clarke who, 
Jancary, 1911. ; 
