132 PLANTS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



H. autumnale. L. Sneezevvort. False Sun Flower. Stem 

 2 feet high, branched, finely winged by the sessile leaves which 

 run down the stem ; bright-yellow flowers nearly in a level co- 

 rymb ; bitter ; fields ; August. 



Dahlia. L. 17. 2. 



Named after a pupil of Linnaeus, A. Dahl ; a genus from Mexi- 

 co, of 3 species ; grows in sandy meadows ; is the most popular, 

 perhaps, of all the autumnal flowers. 



D. superjlua. L. Cultivated in the greatest perfection by 

 cuttings of the roots ; leaves and stem rather coarse, but the 

 flowers are large, single and double, and of a great variety of color, 

 endure long also ; the roots require to be preserved from the frost 

 in a dry place, and early divided and planted ; grows in loamy 

 soils. 



Aster. L. 17. 2. Star Flower. 



Both the names derived from the radiating, or star-like appear- 

 ance of the compound corollas. A great many species, about 

 100, belong to the genus ; some are doubtless only varieties ; a 

 great proportion of them belong to North America and the Cape 

 of Good Hope, a few only to Europe ; 52 are credited by Beck 

 to the Northern and Middle States ; 20 are described by Bigelow 

 as in the vicinity of Boston ; and 31 are credited to this State in 

 the " Geology of Massachusetts." They grow in all situations, 

 along fences and hedges, in woods, on dry and wet soils, in valleys 

 and on mountains. They are a great addition to the beauty of 

 autumnal vegetation, as they grow in great profusion, have a fine 

 green foliage, and bear a multitude of flowers, even to the coming 

 of frosts that destroy all vegetation. They appear to delight in 

 the cooler summers, and not to be hastened to matiu'ity in the 

 hotter summers. Useful properties, as food, medicine, or for 

 manufacture, have been discovered in very few of them. 



A. cyaneus. HofF. Blue Aster. A beautiful species ; stem 

 2 feet high, erect and smooth ; upper part branching, and bearing 

 separate, blue or purplish flowers ; leaves long, sessile, clasping, 



