Genus 31.] 



THISTLE FAMILY. 



28. Aster amethystinus Xutt. 

 Amethyst Aster. (Fig. 3762.) 



Aster amelhyslinus Nutt. Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. (II).7: 

 294. 1841. 



Resembles the preceding species, but is often 

 taller, sometimes 5° high. Leaves often crowded, 

 linear-lanceolate, entire, rough or hispidulous on 

 both sides, partly clasping at the sessile base, acute 

 at the apex, those of the stem i'-2' long, 1"-}," 

 wide; heads rather numerous, racemose or corym- 

 bose, Ji'-i' broad; involucre broadly turbinate, its 

 bracts much imbricated, linear, hispid, not glandu- 

 lar, the acutish green tips spreading; rays 20-30, 

 blue-purple, about 3" long; pappus brown; achenes 

 canescent. 



In moist soil, Massachusetts to southern New York, 

 eastern Pennss-lvania, Illinois and Iowa. Sept.-Oct. 



In moist s 



estern Ontario to Dakota, 



29. Aster major (Hook.) Porter. Great 

 Northern Aster. (Fig. 3763.) 



Aster Unalaschensis var. major Hook. Fl. Bor. .\m. 



2: 7- 1834. 

 Aster 7nodeslus Lindl.; Hook, loc. cit. 8. 1834. 

 Aster majus Porter, Mem. Torr. Club, 5; 325. 1894. 



Stem stout, leafy to the summit, usually densely 

 pilose-pubescent with many-celled hairs, rarely 

 glabrate, branched above, 4°-6° high. Leaves 

 membranous, lanceolate, partly clasping by a 

 narrowed base, acuminate at the apex, sharply 

 serrate with low distant teeth, dark green and 

 slightly pubescent above, villous-pubescent on the 

 veins beneath, 3'-5' long, 5"-io" wide; heads 

 mostly solitary at the ends of short branches, i^' 

 broad; involucre hemispheric, its bracts little im- 

 bricated, green, linear-subulate, densely glan- 

 dular; rays 35-45, purple, S"-'l" long; achenes 

 appressed-pubescent; pappus tawny. 

 Oregon and British Columbia. Sept.-Oct. 



30. Aster puniceus L. Red-stalk or 

 Piorple-stem Aster. (Fig. 3764.) 



^i/fr/>?(«;Vf;/i L. Sp. PI. S75. 1753. 



Stem usually stout, reddish, corymbosely or 

 racemosely branched above, hispid with rigid 

 hairs, t,°-^^ high- Leaves lanceolate to oblong- 

 lanceolate, acuminate, sessile and clasping by a 

 broad or narrowed base, sharply serrate, or some 

 of them entire, usually very rough above, pubes- 

 cent on the midrib beneath, 3'-6'long, '/z'-iyi' 

 wide; heads generally numerous, I'-l^' broad; 

 involucre nearly hemispheric, its bracts linear 

 or oblong, attenuate, imbricated in about 2 series, 

 glabrous or ciliate, green, loose, spreading, 

 nearly equal, sometimes broadened; rays ;o- 

 40, violet-purple or pale, 5"-7" long, showy; 

 pappus nearly white; achenes pubescent. 



In swamps, Nova Scotia to western (Ontario and 

 Minnesota, south to North Carolina, Ohio and 

 Michigan Called also Early Purple .\ster. Swan- 

 weed, Cocash, Meadow Scabish. July-Nov. 



Aster puniceus firmus (Nees) T. & G. Fl. N, A. 2 

 Aster firmus Nees, Syn. Ast. 25. 1S18. 

 Aster puniceus v&r. laevicaulis A. Gray, Syn. Fl. i: Part 2, 195. 1884. 



Stem sparingly hispid, or glabrous, 2°-5° high; leaves sharply serrate. 



141. 1841. 



With the type. 



