102 THE AMERICAN BOTANIST. 



A very conspicuous plant is the previously mentioned dense- 

 flowered aster (A. multHlorns) which is usually abundant on 

 high prairies. The heads are small but very numerous and 

 crowded on the branches. A most beautiful species is the 

 silky aster {A. sericeus) easily disting-uished by its silvery silky 

 leaves. The flower-heads are described as purple-violet. This 

 is found on high prairies as is also the aromatic aster (A. ob- 

 longifohis) another handsome species with purple heads. 



Although I have left it for the last I think that long before 

 this our attention has been drawn to the beautiful smooth aster 

 {A. laevis). This elegant species with smooth leaves and 

 stems, and flowers which have been described as blue-violet, but 

 which are often sky blue, certainly is an ornament to our 

 high prairie roadsides, where left unisturbed by the mower, 

 cheering the heart of the wanderer during the halcyon days of 

 October. 



Wallingford, Iowa. 



Taste of Poison Ivy. — Looking over some numbers of 

 The American Botanist I find in the February number for 

 1903 a short article on the taste of poison ivy by a lady who 

 had tasted of the bark, also a note by the editor telling of a man 

 who ate of the leaves. The editor desired to know the results 

 of experiments by others, and though the matter was very 

 likely discussed at that time I wish to add my experience. Hav- 

 ing always been immune to poison ivy I have handled it with- 

 out thought of harm and as a boy I have rubbed the leaves on 

 my hands and face to show that the poison did not affect me. 

 Later I have chewed the leaves and tasted the bark, which by 

 the way has a spicy taste, and never experienced any unpleas- 

 ant results. I know many people, who, while they seem to be 

 proof against the ivy, would hardly care to test it in the above 

 mentioned manner. — B. O. JVolden, Wallingford, la. 



