1537 



ASTER* fragilis. 



Brittle Aster, 



SYNGENESIA POLYGAMIA SUPERFLUA. 



Nat. ord. Composite Juss. (Introduction to the natural system of 

 Botany, p. 197.) 



ASTER.— Supra, vol. 3. /of. 183. 



A. fragilis; foliis radicalibus caulinisve (saltern iuferioribus) oblongis ad- 

 presso-serratis, superioribus linearibus, omnibus in ambitu scabris, rarau • 

 lorum oblongo-lanceolatis integerrimis mucrdnulatis patentibus, caule 

 piloso-lineato racemoso-decomposito, ramis subpaniculato-racemosis, peri- 

 clinii arete imbrieati brevis foliolis lanceolato-linearibus. — Nees ab Esen- 

 beck gen. et sp. Aster, p. 101. 



A. fragilis. Willd. sp. pi. 3. 2051. Pursh fl. am. sept. 2. 558. Nutt. 

 gen. 2. 158. Nees synops. 29. 



A. scoparius. Nees synops. p. 28. 



Of this well-marked and very distinct species, neither 

 Pursh nor Nees von Esenbeck appear to have seen wild 

 specimens. It is, however, by no means rare in North 

 America, growing among bushes and long grass, when it 

 acquires an aspect very different from that which it bears in 

 gardens, where it grows singly; it then has shorter branches, 

 and much denser leaves. We have it, by the kindness 

 of the learned Dr. Torrey, of New York, from Alabama, 

 and from swamps in the pine barrens of New Jersey. 



It is readily known by its very long and narrow, ser- 

 rated, cauline, and radical leaves, its minute upper leaves, 

 and its branches bearing only a single flower-head, or at least 

 a very small number, at their extremities. The rays are pure 

 white, without any tendency to change to purple or lilac. 



A pretty hardy perennial, flowering in September, from 

 the beginning to the middle of the month. J. L. 



* See fol. 1487. 



