70 



ASTER. 



Aster grandiflorus (Christmas Daisy). 

 A peculiarly handsome- flowered 

 species, with somewhat stiff and wiry 

 stems, but with little of the vigour 

 or coarseness of the other kinds ; 2 4 

 to 3 ft. high. Flowers, in October, 

 November, and December ; large, 

 violet, terminating the branches. 

 Leaves, of the branches alternate, 

 lance-shaped, hairy and rough to the 

 touch, about the size of those of 

 Hyssop ; lower ones I to 2 in., those 

 of the branches often less than ^ in. 

 long. Southern United States, in 



elevated parts, and in warm soils. 



Except on very warm soils and 

 favourable situations this plant should 

 be trained against a low south wall, 

 on which the flowers would be seen to 

 perfection. Division. 



Aster laevis, var. laevigatus (Smooth 

 Aster). A variable and elegant 

 kind, smooth throughout, 1^ to 2 ft. 

 high. Flowers, in autumn ; about 

 1 in. across, purplish-blue with yellow 

 centre, in a large, close panicle. 

 Leaves, thickish, oblong-lance-shaped, 

 pointed, scarcely, if at all, glaucous, 

 the upper ones more or less clasping 

 by an auricled or heart-shaped base ; 

 scales of the involucrum lance-shaped 

 or linear, with narrow and acute green 

 tips tapering down on the mid-nerve. 

 The variety cyaneus is glaucous, has 

 thicker leaves, and the scales of the 

 involucrum are broader and more 

 leathery, with shorter and abrupt tips. 

 N. America.- Borders, naturaliza- 

 tion, and margins of shrubberies, in 

 any soil. Division. 



Aster laxus (Loose-branched Aster). 

 * A very fine and pleasing species, 

 with a slender stem upwards of 2 ft. 

 high. Flowers, early in autumn ; pale 

 purplish -blue, about I in. across, in 

 loose, irregular clusters. Leaves, oval- 

 lance-shaped, pointed, sessile, partially 

 clasping ; the lower leaves about 3 in. 

 long. N. America. Borders and 



naturalization by wood-walks, etc., in 

 any soil. Division. 



Aster longifolius (Long-leaved A.)~- 

 A very variable and showy species, 

 with smooth, branched stems, 1 to 

 5 ft. high. Flowers, in autumn ; 

 bright purplish- blue, nearly 1 in. 

 across, in dense corymbose panicles. 

 Leaves, lance-shaped or linear, taper- 

 pointed, shining above, entire or 

 sparingly serrate in the middle. The 

 varieties of this species are multiform. 

 N. America. Borders and natu- 

 ralization, in ordinary soil. Divi- 

 sion. 



Aster multiflorus (Many-flowered 

 Starwort). A. ericoides. A densely 

 bushy species, 3| to nearly 4 ft. high. 

 Flowers, in autumn ; numerous, small ; 

 florets of the ray pure white ; disk 

 very small, yellowish- white ; arranged 

 in an elongated corymb, forming a 

 very large bouquet. Leaves, alternate, 

 small, linear, like the leaves of certain 

 heaths ; those at the top of the 

 branches reflected. N. America. 



Borders and naturalization, in any 



soil. Division. 



Aster Novae- An gliae (New England 

 Starwort.} A very tall and robust 

 perennial, 5 to 8 ft. high, with pur- 

 pled, hairy stems, and usually covered 

 with a viscid pubescence in the upper 

 parts. Flowers, late in summer and 

 autumn ; violet - purple, sometimes 

 rose-coloured ; heads in a thyrsus or 

 corymb, or compound somewhat 

 paniculate corymbs. Leaves, nume- 

 rous, lance-shaped, auriculate, clasp- 

 ing, entire, sharp -pointed, clothed 

 with a rough pubescence. North 



America. Among the tallest plants 



at the back parts of the mixed border, 

 in warm soils and positions. It grows 

 any where but in cold soils and positions 

 often blooms only in time to be de- 

 stroyed by frosts. Naturalized in sunny 

 sheltered positions in woods and 

 copses, it would probably be seen to 



