MOUNTAIN FLOWERS 219 



flowers growing on short stalks, which spring out at intervals 

 from the axils of the clasping smooth-edged leaves, all the 

 way up the long main stems ; and the bracts of the green 

 involucre are very conspicuous, especially the outer and lower 

 series, which spread forth horizontally and are almost like 

 tiny leaves. This Aster usually grows near w^ater. 



A. Engclmannii, or Engelmann's Aster, is a rather tall 

 robust plant, of coarse appearance, with clusters of purple 

 flowers, each one growing on its own individual axillary stalk, 

 or else in a terminal cyme. 



A common English name for Asters is Michaelmas Daisies, 

 because they bloom at the feast of Saint Michael, according to 



" The calendar, 

 Faithful through a thousand years, 

 Of the painted race of flowers, 

 Exact to days, exact to hours." 



BLUE FLEABANE 



Erigeron acris. Composite Family 



Stems: hirsute-pubescent, slender, simple or branched. Leaves: pubes- 

 cent, entire, the lower ones spatulate, the upper ones oblong, sessile ; 

 involucre hemispheric, its bracts linear, hirsute. Flowers: rays numerous, 

 tubular ; pistillate flowers tiliform ; pappus simple, copious. 



A very common species of Fleabane, which has numerous 

 small flowers growing in a cluster at the top of each slender 

 stem, and also a few solitary axillary blossoms low^er down. 

 The whole plant is hairy, the lower leaves being spatulate and 

 the upper ones oblong, all with smooth perfect margins. 



The Fleabanes differ from the Asters in one very essential 

 particular, namely, that the rays of the former are much nar- 

 rower and very much more numerous than those of the latter, 

 forming a thick fine fringe round the edge of the flowers. 

 Also the F'leabanes bloom earlier in the season. They are 

 extremely prolific. 



