238 FAMILIAR FEATURES OF THE ROADSIDE. 



should know it at once by its bluish stem and ex- 

 ceptionally large, light-yellow florets. 



12. Solidago latifolia. Broad-leaved golden-rod. 

 A species similar to the preceding, and blooming at 

 the same time. Leaves deep green, feather-veined, 

 broadly oval, sharply toothed, and conspicuously 

 pointed at both ends. Stem smooth, without the 

 blue bloom, angled, zigzag, arid generally simple, but 

 sometimes branching at the tip. Flowers light gol- 

 den yellow with but three or four rays. Flower 

 clusters small and arranged along the stem like 

 8. ccesia. This species is also common on woodland 

 borders. 



Blooming at the same time with several of the 

 golden-rods, we will see a dozen kinds of asters 

 purpling the roadside with a handsome array of 

 starry blossoms. Of the forty more or less common 

 species which we meet with East and West, there 

 are a few which we will find both attractive and inter- 

 esting. These I will describe in the same system- 

 atic manner as I have the golden-rods. 



1. Aster Novae- Anglice. New England aster. 

 Blooms in late August. Leaves very numerous, 

 lance-shaped, sharp-pointed, without teeth, minutely 

 hairy, and slightly clasping the stem. Stem stout 

 and hairy. Flower pale violet (rarely magenta-pur- 

 ple), as large as a silver quarter, or larger ; numerous, 



