194 FLOWERS OF FIELD, HILL, AND SWAMP 



A. diffusjis. — Color, white or light purple. Leaves, long, 

 narrow, pointed or oblong, sharply toothed about their middle. 



One of the smaller asters. Common and variable. Several 

 varieties are given, known by small or large leaves. It is a much- 

 branched hairy species, and the blossoms are crowded upon one 

 side of short branchlets. 



42 



A. patens. — Color, blue purple. Leaves, heart-shaped, the 

 lobes often clasping around the stem. 



One of the earlier asters, coming into bloom before the middle 

 of August. The disk is small, yellowish green, and the rays are 

 long, with a backward curve. The stem, about 2 feet high, is 

 hairy. Flowers on delicate stalks, attended by small, scattered 

 leaves. One of our prettiest very blue asters. It grows along 

 roadsides, preferring the shady places in dry ground. 



43 



V A. diimhsHs. — Color, blue. Leaves, long and narrow, with 



rough margins. 



Flowers, rather large. Plant, 2 or 3 feet high, with slender 

 branches and small leaves. Those upon the flower branches 

 scale-like. 



44. Low Cudweed 



Gnaphalium uliginiosum (a lock of wool). — Family, Compo- 

 site. Color, white. Leaves, long, narrow, woolly. Time, late 

 summer. 



A small species, 5 or 6 inches high. The plant is rough and 

 woolly; flowers arranged in head-like clusters. One of tlie ever- 

 lastings having a papery, dry involucre around the flowers. 



45. Common Everlasting 



G. polyieplnihim is a white flower, fragrant especially when 



