WILD FLOWERS OF NEW YORK 307 



the stem by a deeply heart-shaped base, margins rough-ciliate and entire, 

 the apex pointed, or the lower leaves blunt i to 3 inches long, those of the 

 branches much reduced in size. Heads of flowers I inch broad or some- 

 times broader, solitary at the ends of the branches; bracts of the broadly 

 turbinate involucres linear-oblong, finely pubescent or roughish and some- 

 what glandular, overlapping in several series, their green, pointed tips 

 spreading. Ray flowers twenty to thirty, purplish blue or deep violet, 

 one-third to one-half of an inch long; pappus tawny. 



In dry, open thickets and fields, Maine to Minnesota, south to Florida 

 and Texas. Flowering from August to October. 



Smooth Aster 



Aster laevis Linnaeus 



Plate 243 



Stems rather stout, or slender and stiff, smooth and usually glaucous, 

 branched above or simple, 2 to 4 feet high, from a thick, perennial root. 

 Leaves thick, smooth, slightly rough on the entire or slightly toothed 

 margins, the upper ones sessile and clasping the stem by a heart-shaped 

 base, lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate in shape, i to 4 inches long, one-third 

 to 2 inches wide; the lower and basal leaves gradually narrowed into mar- 

 gined petioles; the leaves of the branches usually reduced in size. Heads 

 of flowers numerous, about i inch broad ; bracts of the bell-shaped involucres 

 rigid, pointed, green-tipped, appressed and overlapping in several series. 

 Ray flowers fifteen to thirty in number, blue or violet; pappus tawny. 



In dry or sandy soil of open fields and thickets, Maine to Ontario and 

 Saskatchewan, south to Alabama, Louisiana, Missouri and Colorado. 

 Flowering from late August to October. 



Seaside or Low Showy Aster 



Aster spectabilis Aiton 



Plate 244 



Stems erect or ascending, stiff, simple or branched above, usually 

 several or many from a single mat of stout, perennial roots; stems slightly 



