ALEXANDER] ASTERS 267 



Aster Novae-Angliae, except for the goldenrod is the most 

 conspicuous and probably the most loved and admired flower of 

 our northern hills in autumn. It blossoms from August to October 

 but is seen in full perfection in our State about the middle of the 

 latter month. The asters belong to the composite family and many 

 of them are rarely beautiful while others lay claim to but few and 

 modest charms. It is to the former category that must refer 

 the New ^^ngland aster. Its blossoms are about one inch broad, 

 the disk flowers are rich and pleasing as seen massed together, and 

 are uncommonly effective when the head first opens and the beauty 

 of the 30-40 unrivaled ray flowers is still unimpaired; the rays 

 close and open several times but it is only after their first opening 

 that we can say that we have seen them in all that perfection 

 implies. They are like magenta or purple stars. The firmament 

 is hardly more fair to look upon when the night is unclouded than 

 our fields in October when these stellar gems of the floral world 

 spread far and near in endlessly beautiful and varied constellations. 

 The New England aster is tall growing, the stem is much branched 

 aiid its olive green soft-hairy leaves are easily seen from a consider- 

 able distance; the color of leaf and blossom blending harmoni- 

 ously. Mable Osgood Wright says of it : * 'What a striking plant 

 this is when seen standing in uncrowded groups close to the water." 

 As it is often cultivated it is not uncommon in such groups, and 

 fringing some sequestered pool in a garden, or out of it, where its 

 rich purple can reflected mingle with the blue of quiet waters it is 

 indeed a striking plant and one to be admired." 



Of the 77 species of asters that are listed in Gray's Manual, 

 a few stand out and may readily be recognized, most of them are 

 hailed as welcome friends when they arrive, but botanically the 

 group is so difficult to deal with that most of us are content to 

 regard them merely as asters, things to consider aesthetically 

 rather than studiously, and as a result of this attitude these rare 

 plants are not nearly so intimately known individually as are some 

 of the less common but more simple groups of flowers, our native 

 orchids for example. The writer knows many unlettered persons 

 who without hesitancy will point out the pink and yellow ladies' 

 slipper and refer them to the orchid list but who cannot with 

 certainty distinguish between the daisy flea-bane and our common 

 white asters, calling them indiscriminately "little white daisies." 



The Heart-leaved Aster (Aster cordifolius) although it is one of 

 the small flowered asters is still worthy of more than passing notice. 



