Blue to Purple Flowers 299 



The Fleabanes differ from the Asters in one very essen- 

 tial particular, namely, that the rays of the former are much 

 narrower and very much more numerous than those of the 

 latter, forming a thick fine fringe round the edge of the 

 flowers. Also the Fleabanes bloom earlier in the season. 

 They are extremely prolific. 



Erigeron philadelphiciis, or Lavender Fleabane, has a 

 thick, finely cut lavender fringe encircling its yellow disk of 

 tiny tubular florets. The leaves are very clasping and 

 toothed, and the rays often number one hundred and twenty. 



Erigeron iiniflorus, or Arctic Fleabane, is a tiny dwarf 

 plant, growing from one to six inches high, and found 

 only on the loftiest mountain summits. It has a single 

 slender stem, which is clothed at the base by a small cluster 

 of smooth-margined hairy leaves; a few little narrow leaves 

 also grow higher up. At the top is a solitary purplish 

 flow^er. The whole plant is very hairy and woolly. 



Erigeron lanatus, or Alpine Fleabane, is also a species 

 which grows at great elevations. It has both purple and 

 white flowers, and is covered with a soft, whitish, woolly 

 coating. 



Erigeron salsuginosiis, or Large Purple Fleabane, is the 

 king of its tribe. It has very large and lovely purple flow- 

 ers, with big yellow disks and a few small, thick, smooth 

 leaves clinging to its stout downy stems. The rays number 

 from fifty to seventy, and the bracts of the involucre are 

 narrow and spreading. This particular Fleabane is quite 

 unmistakable, for it is much larger and handsomer than any 

 of the other mountain species, and makes the alpine meadows 

 and slopes quite gay during its flowering season, which is 

 in the early autumn. 



