STUDIES IN THE COMPOSITA. 149 
Mexico there occurs, in addition to this, a form that is later 
in its flowering, has only subulate and appressed leaves that 
are scarcely hispidulous; the stems are more decidedly suf- 
fruticose at base, and all the branches are filiform, long, 
weak and straggling. I wish to name this a variety or sub- 
species SEROTINA. lam not sure that this does not merely 
represent a later second flowering of the type; a condition 
of it such as might possibly be caused by a revival of its 
growth after the beginning of the summer rains. Yet,in 
Colorado, the summer rains superinduce no such renewed 
growth and second flowering in the plant of that region. 
The var.? renuts (A. ericefolius, var. tenuis, Gray) is much 
like the other variety in aspect, but has other characters 
such as would seem to, bespeak for it the rank of a species. 
This has at base of stem a distinct tuft of spatulate linear 
leaves entirely unlike those of the filiform branches, which 
are subulate and appressed. The bracts of the involucre in 
this are of a somewhat elliptic-lanceolate outline and are far 
more conspicuously scarious-edged than in other forms. 
Dr. Gray has erred in attributing to any of these plants 
“rays purple or violet." "They are white, except when vary- 
ing to rose-color or red. There is nothing of the violet 
coloring of true Asters in this genus. 
