COMPOSITE. (COMPOSITE FAMILY.) 203 



the others sessile or partly clasping ; the uppermost very small, erect ; scales of 

 the involucre in 3 - 4 rows, linear, acute. Dry pine barrens, Florida and Geor- 

 gia. Stem 1 - 2 high. Lowest leaves 1' long, the upper ones 2" - 3" long, 

 similar to those of No. 13. 



29. A. dumosus, L. Smoothish ; stem slender, racemose-paniclcd, bear- 

 ing the small heads chiefly on slender and very leafy branchlets ; leaves linear, 

 entire, spreading or reflexed ; the lowest spatulate-lanceolate, serrate ; those of 

 the branches short, linear-oblong, and mostly obtuse : scales of the involucre 

 closely imbricated in 3-6 rows, with obtuse green tips. (A. foliolosus, Ell.) 

 Dry or damp soil, common, and running into several varieties. Stem 2 -3 

 high. Rays pale purple or white. 



30. A. Tradescanti, L. Stem slender, pubescent, racemose-branched; 

 leaves long, linear-lanceolate, sparingly serrate, tapering into a long and slender 

 point ; the uppermost entire ; heads in close racemes along the spreading branch- 

 es ; scales of the involucre narrow-linear, acute, imbricated in 3 - 4 rows. Var. 

 FRAGILIS. Leaves mostly entire ; heads fewer, often solitary on the branchlets. 

 (A. tenuifolius, Ell.) Low ground in the upper districts. Stem 2 - 3 high. 

 Rays pale purple or white. 



31. A. miser, L. Pubescent or hairy ; stem simple, and bearing the small 

 heads in a long and leafy compound raceme, or diffusely branched, with the 

 heads scattered along the branches, or in short few-flowered racemes ; leaves 

 varying from linear-lanceolate to wedge-obovate, acute at each end, sharply ser- 

 rate in the middle ; the lowest spatulate, the uppermost entire ; scales of the 

 involucre linear, acute. Low grounds and banks, common and very variable. 

 Stem 1 -4 long. Rays white or purplish. A. diflfusus, A. divergens, and 

 A. pendulus, of Aiton, are forms of this. 



*- - 1 - Heads middle-sized. 



32. A. simplex, Willd. Stem smooth or pubescent in lines, corymbose 

 or racemose-branched ; heads in short racemes ; leaves lanceolate, acute or acu- 

 minate at both ends, smooth, rough on the margins, the lower ones sharply ser- 

 rate ; scales of the involucre linear-subulate, loosely imbricated. Low ground, 

 Florida, and northward. Stem 3 -6 high, sparingly or diffusely branched. 

 Leaves 2' - 4' long. Rays pale blue. 



33. A. tenuifolius, L. Nearly smooth ; stem paniculately branched ; 

 the rather small heads disposed in panicled racemes ; leaves long, narrow-lance- 

 olate, tapering to a long and slender point ; the lower ones commonly serrate in 

 the middle ; scales of the involucre numerous, linear-subulate, appressed. 

 Low ground in the upper districts, Georgia, and northward. Stem 2 - 3 

 high. Leaves 3' - 6' long. Rays short, pale purple or white. 

 ******* Leaves lanceolate or ol>long, sessile, the upper ones more or less clasp- 

 ing: heads large or middle-sized: scales of the involucre nearly equal, with spread- 

 ing green tips : rai/s mostly large and numerous, blue or purple. 



34. A. Novi-Belgii, L. Nearly smooth ; stem stout ; leaves oblong- 

 lanceolate, pale or somewhat glaucous, serrate in the middle, acute or tapering 

 at each end ; scales of the involucre rather closely imbricated, with broadish 



