PLATE VII. 



1. ASTER AMELLUS, 



ITALIAN ASTER. 



THIS genus comprehends different fibrous-rooted flowery plants 

 of the annual and perennial herbaceous and shrubby kinds. The 

 Starworts. 



It belongs to the class and order Syngenesia Polyganria Superflua, 

 and ranks in the natural order of Compositi Radiati. 



The characters are: that the calyx is common imbricate; the 

 inner scales prominent a little at the end, the lower ones spreading: 

 the corolla compound radiate: corollules hermaphrodite numerous 

 in the disk: the females ligulate, and more than ten in the ray. Pro- 

 per, of the hermaphrodite, funnel-shaped, with a five-cleft spreading 

 border; of the female ligulate, lanceolate, three- toothed, at length 

 rolling back: the stamina hermaphrodite, five filaments, capillary, and 

 very short: the anther cylindric and tubulous: the pistillum is her- 

 maphrodite: one oblong germ: the style filiform, the length of the 

 stamens: stigma bifid, spreading: females, germ and style the same: 

 stigmas two, oblong, and revolute: no pericarpium : the calyx scarcely 

 changed: the seeds solitary, oblong, and ovate: down capillary: the 

 receptacle is naked and flattish. 



The species principally cultivated are, 1. A. Chinensis, China As- 

 ter, or Chinese Starwort; 2. A. Tradescanti, Tradescant's or Virginia 

 Starwort; 3. A. Amelias, Amellus, or Italian Starwort; 4. A. Alpinus, 

 Alpine or Great Mountain Starwort; 5. A. Nov<z- Anglice, New- Eng- 

 land Starwort; 6. A . grandiflorus, Great Blue Pyramidal Aster, or 

 Catesby's Starwort; 7. A.puniceus, Red-stalked American Starwort; 

 8. A. undulatus, Waved Starwort; 9. A. linifoliits, Flax-leaved Star- 



