COMPOSITE FAMILY. Composite. 



A similar species with fine linear leaves, 

 Bushy Aster an( j i oose _fl OW ering branches, the • stern 

 Aster dumosus ■.«.,«•• , ,. , 



White or slightly fine-hairy, and sometimes brown- 



lilac-white ish, or the whole plant quite smooth. 

 August- The little flowers, with 15-25 white or pale 



October lila-c rays, are rather larger than those of 



the next species. 1-3 feet high. Dry sandy soil. Mass., 

 and Conn., south and west to S. Dak. and Mo. 



A white-flowered species with larger 

 Small White r f 



Aster linear, or narrow lance-shaped leaves, the 



Aider vimineus largest ones slightly sharp-toothed. Stem 



White and leaves nearly if not quite smooth, the 



August- stem often reddish, its branches almost 



horizontal. The tiny flowers with numer- 

 ous white rays. The flowering branch 3s very short, and 

 minutely leafy. 2-4 feet high. Common in moist places 

 and on river-banks, from southern N. Eng., south, and 

 west to Minn . , and Ark. The var. foliolosus is very leafy 

 and the branches turn upward; the linear leaves are 

 toothless, and nearly 2 inches long. The flowers in a 

 very loose cluster. 2-5 feet high. From Jaffrey, N. H., 

 south to Va., and west to Mo. 



An exceedingly common and variable 

 Aster diffuaus species, with a smooth, slender, sometimes 

 Light purple magenta-stained stem, with straggling 

 or white branches. The light green, lance-shaped 



August- leaves sparingly toothed, and larger than 



any of those of the species immediately pre- 

 ceding. The little flowers scarcely £ inch across, with 

 numerous light purple or lilac or white rays ; the disc- 

 florets a deeper purple. 1-5 feet high. In dry fields, and 

 copses. Me., south to N. Car., west to S. Dak. and La. 

 A slender-stemmed, much-branched 

 ra escan s w hite aster, with numerous flowers about 

 Aster f mcn broad, and with long lance-shaped 



Tradescanti leaves, the lower ones slightly toothed, 

 White smooth on both sides, thin, and tapering 



ug " s ~ • to a sharp point. The small flowers with 



white or lilac- white rays clustered about 

 the short upward- turned branches. 2-4 feet high. In 

 wet fields and swamps, Me. , south, and west to Minn. 



492 



