194 COMPOSITE. (COMPOSITE FAMILY.) 



* *c * * # L'-ircs none of them heart -shaped ; those of the stem taper! IK/ at the base, 

 sessile; in* ' ' the scales of unequal Umjtli, iritli short and narrow 



(ij'jii'ixxtd or rather loose grceniah tips : heads small or middle-sized: rays white or 

 pale bluish-purple. 



*- Heads small. (Involucre |' - y long.) 



18. A. dumoSUS, L. Smooth or nearly so, raccmosely compound, the 

 ed heads mostly solitary at the end of the spreading branchlets ; leaves linear 



or the upper oblong, crowded, entire or slightly serrate, with rough margins ; 

 scales of the closely imbricated involucre linear-epatolat/e, obtuse, in 4-6 rows. 

 Thickets, in dry or moist soil; common. A variable species, l-3 high, 

 loosely branched, with small leaves, especially the upper, and an inversely con- 

 ical or bell-shaped involucre, with more abrupt green tips than any of the suc- 

 ceeding. Rays pale purple or blue, larger than in the next. Runs into several 

 peculiar forms. 



19. A. TradesCcinti, L. Smooth or smoothish; the numerous heads closely 

 racemed along one side of the erect-spreading or diverging branches ; leaves 

 lanceolate-linear, elongated, the larger ones remotely sen-ate in the middle with 

 fine sharp teeth; scales of the involucre narrowly linear, acute or acutish, imbricated 

 in 3 or 4 rows. Var. FRAciLis has the leaves entire or nearly so, except the 

 lowest, and the heads more scattered. Moist banks, &c., very common. 

 Stems 2 -4 high, bushy: heads very numerous, smaller than in the last. 

 Rays white or nearly so. 



20. A, miser, L., Ait. More or less hairy, much branched ; the brandies 

 usually diverging, bearing racemose often scattered heads ; leaves lanceolate or ob- 

 long-lanceolate, tapering or pointed at each end, sharply sen-ate in the middle; 

 scales of the involucre linear, acute or rather obtuse, imbricated in 3 or 4 rows. 

 Thickets, fields, &c., very common, and extensively variable. Leaves larger 

 than in either of the preceding (2'- 5') ; the involucre intermediate between them, 

 as to the form of the scales. Rays mostly short, pale bluish-purple or white. 



*- *- Heads middle-sized. (Involucre ,'-' long.) 



21. A. Simplex, Willd. Smooth or nearly so (3 -6 high), much 

 branched; the branches and scattered heads somewhat corymbose at the summit; 

 leaves lanceolate, pointed, the lower serrate ; scales of the involucre linear-avd-shaped, 

 loosely and sjxtringly imbricated. Shady moist banks, common. Rays pale. 

 Approaches in its different forms the preceding and the two following. 



22. A. teiauifolius, L. Nearly smooth ; stem much branched (12 -3 

 high) ; the heads somewhat panicled or racemed ; learcs narroirly /</, 

 tapering into a long slender point (2' -6' long), with rough margins, the lower some- 

 what serrate in the middle ; scales of the hemispherical involucre linear-awl-shaped, 

 very slender-pointed, numerous, closely imbricated. Low grounds, New York to 

 Wisconsin, and southward. Rays short and narrow, pale purple or whitish. 



23. A. Ctil'lieilS, Nces. Smooth, or the branches rougher pubescent; 

 leaves laiicioliitr, somewhat pointed, or the upper short and partly clasping; 

 heads raeunosc along the ascending leafy branches ; snihs of ./- obanitt inn* 

 lucre lanceolate, abntptly acute, i 'lonely imbrinttid. Moist soil ; common. Leaven 

 firm in texture, smooth, or rough above. Rays rather large, bluish, purplish, 



