Aster. COMPOSITE. 347 



20. Aster puniceus, Linn. Hispid Tall Aster. 



Stem hispid, stout, paniculate above ; leaves oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, rather coarsely 

 serrate in the middle, very rough above and on the midrib underneath, clasping by a more or 

 less auriculate base ; heads (rather large) somewhat crowded in a racemose or paniculate 

 manner towards the summit of the leafy branches ; scales of the involucre narrowly linear, 

 tapering to a long acute point, loose and somewhat spreading, nearly equal in about 2 series, 

 as long as the disk. — Linn. sp. 2. p. 875 ; Michx. fl. 2. p. 1 15 ; Willd. sp. 3. p. 2040 ; 

 Pursh, fl. 2. p. 554 ; Bigel. fl. Bost. p. 312 ; Hook. fl. Bor.-Am. 2. p. 10 ; Darlingt. fl. 

 Cest. p. 465 ; DC. prodr. 5. p. 236 ; Torr. ^ Gr. fl. N. Am. 2. p. 140. A. amcenus and 

 hispidus, Lam. diet. 1. p. 306. 



Stem 3-6 feet high, usually purplish, hispid with short strong prickly hairs, paniculately 

 or corymbosely much branched above. Leaves often almost equally rough on both surfaces ; 

 the cauline ones 3-5 inches long, and varying from rather narrowly lanceolate to nearly 

 oblong, usually a little narrow below nearly to the base, which is clasping-auriculate ; leaves 

 of the branches and branchlets of the same form as the cauline, but smaller. Heads (with 

 the rays expanded) an inch or more in diameter, on nearly naked pedicels. Scales very acute, 

 the inner ones often a little longer than the disk. Rays numerous, violet-purple, often pale. 

 Achenia somewhat pubescent. 



Low wet thickets ; common. September - October. A coarse well-marked species. 

 There are varieties (but I have not found them in New-York) in which the stem is smoothish, 

 particularly below, with the exterior scales of the involucre rather broad and more foliaceous. 

 To these belong A. vimineus and A.firmus of authors. 



21. Aster prenanthoides, Muhl. Prenanthes-like Aster. 



Stem pubescent or hairy in decurrent lines, loosely paniculate-corymbose at the summit ; 

 leaves spatulate-lanceolate or lanceolate-oval, incisely serrate in the middle, conspicuously 

 acuminate, abruptly tapering into a long narrow base like a winged petiole, with a cordate or 

 auriculate clasping insertion, rough above, smooth underneath ; heads (rather large) on short 

 rigid spreading peduncles ; scales of the hemispherical involucre lanceolate-linear or spatulate- 

 linear, acute or acuminate, imbricated in 3 - 4 series, with recurved-spreading herbaceous 

 summits. — Muhl. in Willd. sp. 3. p. 2046; Nees, Ast. p. 61 ; Beck, hot. p. 185 ; Darlingt. 

 fl. Cest. p. 465 ; DC. prodr. 5. p. 234 ; Torr. ^ Gr. fl. N. Am. 2. p. 142. 



Stem 1-4 feet high, sparingly branched ; the pubescence commonly in lines, with the 

 intervals smooth. Leaves 3-6 inches or more in length and an inch or more in breadth, 

 entire and remarkably contracted below, with a conspicuous dilated and clasping base, of a 

 rather thin texture. Heads rather few, loosely clustered towards the extremity of the branches; 

 the upper ones and those of the branches smaller, and usually less narrowed at the base. 

 Scales of the involucre smooth, or slightly ciliate on the margin ; the exterior ones often 

 spatulate and green. Rays 20 or more, pale violet or lilac, sometimes nearly white. Pappus 

 unequal. Achenia somewhat hispid. 



Moist woods and thickets. Western part of the Stale {Dr. Knieskern and Dr. Sartwell). 



September - October. 



44* 



