282 A GUIDE TO THE WILD FLOWERS 



Yz in. wide, but very numerous in much branched clusters. 

 In dry places, nearly throughout the area, in some of its 

 many forms. September. Fig. 863. 



864. Flat-top Aster. Doellingeria umbeUata. (Aster um- 

 bellatus.) A usually smooth-stemmed, leafy perennial, 2-6 

 ft. high. Leaves lance-oblong, narrowed both ends, hairy on 

 the margins, 15^-23^ in. long. Flowers white, the heads about 

 I in. wide, and in small flat-topped clusters. In moist places. 

 Newfoundland to Georgia and westward. August. Fig. 864. 

 A related species, D. humilis, is lower and has more oval 

 leaves. It is found from southern New Jersey to Florida and 

 Texas. 



865. Salt Marsh Aster. Aster tenuifoHus. A fleshy 

 stemmed perennial Aster, not much branched, and 1-2 ft. 

 high. Leaves sharp-pointed, linear, ^-2 in. long, toothless, 

 stem-clasping or merely stalkless. Flowers pale lavender, or 

 pale purple, or white, the heads few, terminating small 

 branches. In salt meadows. Mass. to Florida. September. 

 Fig. 865. A related species, A. subulatus, is more branched, 

 has purplish flowers, and is found in similar situations. 



866. New England Aster. Aster novae-angliae. A stout, 

 rough-hairy perennial, mostly branched, and 2-6 ft. tall. 

 Leaves coarse, rough, lance-oblong, toothless, 2^-4 in. long, 

 stem-clasping at the base. Flowers violet-purple, the heads 

 very showy, about i^ in. wide, clustered at the ends of 



