Genus 31.] 



THISTLE FAMILY 



12. Aster violaris Burgess. Violet-leaf 

 Aster. (Fig. 3746.) 



Caudes thick, flesh}-; plant glabrate, bluish green, 

 minutely glandular. Stem slender, erect, or as- 

 surgent, 2° high, or less; basal and lower leaves 

 broadl)- reniform, abruptly acuminate or apiculate, 

 often 3' long by 4' wide, their slender petioles 6'- 

 S' long, the sinus very broad and shallow; middle 

 stem leaves similar, not cordate; the upper numer- 

 ous, long-elliptic, chiefly with narrowed bases, all 

 thin, firm, rough above; inflorescence leafy, small, 

 loose, rather narrow and high, paniculate corym- 

 bose, nearly level-topped, its slender branches with 

 nearly opposite, oblong leaves; heads 6" high, or 

 more; rays 12-15, pale violet, narrow. 



In shaded racist places, sometimes in leaf-mold 

 among rocks. New York from the Hudson to Lake Rrie. 

 Sept.-Oct. 



13. Aster multiformis Burgess. 

 Various-leaved Aster. (Fig. 3747.) 



Deep green, minutely glandular. Stem 

 erect, slender, i°-2° high, angular-striate in 

 drying. Basal leaves usually 2, large, thick, 

 cordate-oblong, often accompanied by later 

 smaller oblong ones; stem leaves very thin, 

 sharply serrate, rough above, minutely puber- 

 ulent beneath, the lower, ovate, acuminate, 

 usually with a narrow sinus, the upper oval 

 to ovate-lanceolate, petioled, the uppermost 

 elliptic-lanceolate, serrulate, sessile or nearly 

 so; inflorescence small, its branches upwardly 

 curved; heads about 7" high, rays about 13, 

 rounded and refuse at the apex; bracts green, 

 glands few, almost hidden by the minutely 

 strigose pubescence of the peduncles. 



In moist shaded places, Maine to western New 

 York, Pennsylvania and Maryland. July-Aug. 



14. Aster nobilis Burgess. Stately 

 Aster. (Fig. 3748.) 



Tall, minutely glandular above, stem shining, 

 bright green, 4°-5° high. Leaves thin, but 

 firm, smooth in growth, roughened in drying, 

 minutely puberulcnt beneath, dark green, basal 

 and lower leaves large, the blade often g' long 

 by 6' wide, about as long as the stout petiole, 

 sharply toothed, the sinus deep, broad, or the 

 lobes overlapping; stem leaves similar, the up- 

 per oblong-lanceolate, sessile; inflorescence ir- 

 regularly cymose-paniculate, with small subu- 

 late recurved leaves; bracts long, acute, green; 

 heads 6" high, or less; rays 13-15, violet- blue or 

 pale violet; disk-flowers not numerous, their 

 corollas funnelform with a long capillary tube. 



In leaf-mold, Lake Champlain to Lake Erie. 

 Aug. 



