108 
Asplenium—continued. 
two or three to a pinna, placed near the margin. St. Thomas’ 
Island, &c. Stove. 
A. viviparum nobile (noble). fronds beautifully feathery, 
much more open and flat than in the type, 14ft. long, quadri- 
pinnate ; ultimate segments three times as long as those of the 
type, pendulous. sori abundant on the margins of the segments. 
New Guinea. Young plants are produced on the upper surface 
of the mature fronds. 
A. zamioides (Zamia-like). A synonym of A. paradoxum. 
ASPREGENIA. A synonym of Octomeria (which 
see). E 
ASPRELLA. See Asperella. 
ASTELIA (from a, privative, and stele, a pillar; in 
allusion to some of the species living on trees, but not 
being parasitic). Syn. Hamelinia. Orv. Liliacer. A 
genus embracing about nine species of mostly greenhouse 
perennials, clothed with silky, shaggy, or chaff-like hairs, 
and with a short, thick rhizome, natives of New Zealand, 
the Pacific Islands, the mountains of Australia, Tasmania, 
and Antarctic America. Flowers white, greenish or 
purple, polygamo-diccious, small, in dense racemes or 
panicles; perianth marcescent, persistent, six-parted. 
Leaves radical or crowded at the base of the scape, 
sheathing it. The species thrive in a compost of equal 
parts peat and loam, and may be propagated by divisions, 
in spring. 
A. Banksii (Banks’s). jl. greenish; perianth din. in diameter; 
panicle densely silky, 4in. or more in length. J. 2ft. to ft. long, 
4in. to gin. broad, glabrous or silky. New Zealand. e 
A. Cunninghamii (Cunningham’s). (. green, numerous ; 
perianth rotate, jin. in diameter. J. 2ft. to Sft. long, tin. to 
lin. broad, spreading and recurved, plaited, silky, and villous. 
Scape lin. to 1sft. high. New Zealand. Probably half-hardy. 
(B. M. 5175.) 
A. Solandri (Solander’s). fl. greenish, very much crowded in 
panicles (male) 6in. to 18in. or (female) 8in. to 12in. long; 
[vada male sin. long, female much smaller. J. 2ft. to 4ft. 
ong, Sin. broad, spreading and recurved, clothed at base with 
Soicey silky wool. Scape stout. New Zealand, 1864. (B. M. 
ASTELMA. Botanists include this genus under 
Helipterum (which see), the specific names remaining 
unchanged. 
ASTER. Syn. Pinardia. Bentham and Hooker 
include the following genera (among many others) here- 
under: Bellidiastrum, Calimeris, Dieteria, Galatella, 
Linosyris, Machzranthera, Diplopappus, and Tripolium. 
There are, according to those authorities, about 200 
distinct species of this genus (nearly 350 have been 
described as such) ; they are most copious in the Northern 
hemisphere, particularly in America, where about-120 
occur. 
Of this extensive genus no section of it has been so 
much improved as that kmown as Michaelmas Daisies, 
Starworts, and Perennial Asters. The first name now- 
adays is, however, somewhat of an anachronism, 
seeing that many of the newer species and varieties 
blossom as early as July, and by ‘a judicious selection 
it is possible to have bright and useful flowers for 
eutting onwards until winter arrives. The Perennial 
Asters of the present day are very different from the 
Michaelmas Daisies of old, many of which were poor and 
washed-out as to colour, and weedy and straggling as to 
habit. They are essentially flowers for the amateur, as 
they are not fastidious as to soil or surroundings, and may 
be grown in towns as well as in the country if but a little 
attention is bestowed upon them. They are far more useful, 
because more enduring and floriferous, than the usual tender 
occupants of beds and borders, which are allowed to drag 
out a miserable existence after the zenith of their beauty in 
late summer is passed, and they should be more extensively 
cultivated. A fillip was most certainly given to their 
eulture after the Aster Conference of 1891, but they are 
THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 
Aster—continued. 
still far from being sufficiently recognised considering their 
decorative qualities and their value as cut-flowers for vases 
and the like. For associating with many of the autumnal 
flowers—like the Japanese Anemones, the Double Sun- 
flowers, and the Marsh Ox-Eyes—they are excellent, and 
last, too, whether cu{ or on the bush,a long time. For 
pot culture the Peren- 
nial Asters are now 
being much grown. 
A well-worked, rich 
soil suits them admir- 
ably, and beyond a stout 
stake to prevent the 
tall-growing kinds from 
being broken by the 
strong winds and heavy 
rains of autumn, they 
require very little after- 
treatment. To see them 
to the best advantage a 
good wide border is 
necessary, allowing the 
plants ample room to 
develop, and especially 
the vigorous kinds. The 
tall varieties may then 
be accommodated in the 
back row, medium 
growers more towards 
the centre, and the 
dwarf varieties may be 
utilised for. the edgings 
or even for rockeries, 
as many of them seldom 
attain more than 6in. 
in height. Such are 
A. alpinus and its varie- 
ties, the best of which 
are speciosus and su- 
perbus. 
Perennial Asters are 
readily propagated by 
division in autumn or in 
spring. The latter, 
however, is the better 
season. It will also be found a good plan to discard the 
old stools—at least, of the strong-growing kinds—every 
second year, using for replanting only the outside 
portions. If dry, hot weather should set in, mulching 
is most beneficial. These Asters, it must be remembered. 
‘take a lot out of the soil, and to get the best results 
liquid manure-water should be occasionally given. Over- 
crowding must be avoided. It will be found a good plan 
to cut down the vigorous kinds in July to within 6in. 
*In the early-flowering section are A. acris and its 
variety dracunculoides; A. Amellus bessarabicus and 
Riverslea; A. cordifolius; A. levis and its varieties 
Apollo, Arcturus, and Psyche; A. Maackii; varieties of 
A. Nove-Belgii, like levigatus, Purity, Harpur Crewe, 
Daisy Hill, and Madonna; and A. Shortii. Later come 
varieties of A. levis—decorus, floribundus, formosissimus, 
and Ariadne; the compact little A. dwmosus; A. cordi- 
folius elegans (Fig. 133) and A.c. albulus; A. ericoides Clio ; 
A. Lindleyanus nanus; Coombe Fishacre; A..Linosyris ; 
a veritable host of garden forms of Novx-Belgii in Robert 
Parker, John Wood, Nancy, Autumn Glory, Daphne, Ella, 
Margaret Jarvis, and White Spray; several good varieties 
of A. Nove-Angliz in przxcox, roseus, ruber, and W. Bow- 
man; and the exquisitely graceful A. vimineus and its 
form Cassiope. This last is one of the gems of the 
whole collection. Still later are A. Novw-Angliz pul- 
chellus; A. grandiflorus; A. Tradescantii; A. ericoides, 
another graceful species; A. amethystinus; A. diffusus 
Fig 133. ASTER CORDIFOLIUS 
ELEGANS. 
