COMPOSITE. (composite FAMILY.) 223 



* 7. Leaves lanceolate or oblong, sessile, the upper ones more or less clasping : 



heads large or middle-sized : scales of the involucre nearly equal, with spread- 

 ing green tips : rays mostly large and numerous, blue or purple. 



32. A. Novi-Belgii, L. Stem nearly smooth, corymbose-panicled above ; 

 leaves long, lanceolate, acuminate, shining above, the lowest narrowed at the 

 base, and serrate in the middle, the ujjper sessile or partly clasping; beads 

 solitary or few on the rigid branchlets ; scales of the involncre linear, with 

 green and subulate, or broader and abruptly pointed spreading tips ; rays 

 purplish blue. — Swamps, Georgia, and northward. — Stem l°-3° high. 

 Leaves 3'- 6' long. Heads showy. 



33. A. Elliottii, Torr. & Gray. Stem stout, smooth, very leafy, corym- 

 bose-branched ; the branches short and pubescent in lines ; leaves large, ob- 

 long-lanceolate, acute, serrate, narrowed toward the base, and partly clasping ; 

 the lowest spatulateoblong, obtuse, crenate ; heads corymbed at the ends of 

 the branches ; scales of the involucre subulate, with long and spreading tips ; 

 rays pale purple. (A. puniceus, Ell.) — Swamps, Florida to North Carolina. 



— Stem 2° -3° high. Leaves 4' - 6' long, or the lowest 1° long. 



34. A. puniceus, L. Stem hispid, panicled above ; leaves lanceolate or 

 oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, sharply serrate, very rough above, auriculate 

 and clasping at the base ; scales of the involucre linear-subulate, in about two 

 rows; rays numerous and showy. — Swampy thickets in the upper districts. 



— Stem 3° - 5° high, commouly purplish. Kays violet-purple. 



Var. Isevicaulis, Gray. Stem smooth, green ; branches pubescent ; 

 leaves wider and smoother. — Banks of the Coosa River, Rome, Georgia. 



3.5. A. prenanthoides, Muhl. Stem pubescent in lines, corymbose at 

 the summit; leaves ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, sharply serrate in the middle, 

 contracted into a broadly winged petiole, which is dilated and clasping at the 

 base, rough above ; scales of the involucre narrow-linear, imbricated in 3 - 4 

 rows, with spreading green tips. — Damp woods. North Carolina, and north- 

 ward. — Stem 1° - 3° high. Leaves thin, 5'- 6' long. Rays pale purple. 



* 8. Leaves lanceolate or oblong, entire, sessile or clasping : heads large, in 



corymbs or racemes : scales of the involucre numerous, with spreading green 

 summits : rays numerous, showy. 



36. A. grandiflorus, L. Stem rigid, rough with bristly hairs, sparingly 

 branched; leaves small, linear-oblong, sessile, hispid, commonly reflexed; 

 heads very large, solitary, terminating the branches ; scales of the involucre 

 rigid ; the outer ones with obtuse spreading tips, the inner erect, acute ; rays 

 violet. — Dry soil in the upper districts. — Stem 2°-3° high. Leaves l'-2' 

 long. Heads 1' in diameter. 



37. A. Oblongifolius, Nutt. Stem hir.sute, corymbosely branched, very 

 leafy ; leaves oblong-lanceolate, closely sessile, acute, scabrous above ; heads 

 terminating the .short branchlets, single or corymbo.se; scales nearly equal, 

 glandular ; rays violet purple ; achenia pubescent. — Rocky banks, Tennessee, 

 and northward. — Stem 1°- 2° high. Leaves 1'- 2' long. ' 



38. A. Carolinianus, Walt. Stem shrubby, long and trailing; the 

 branches and leaves closely pubescent ; leaves short, oblong, acute, abruptly 



