BLUE AND PURPLE WILD FLOWERS 



purple-stained centre of disc flowers which are set in 

 pleasing green cups of overlapping parts. The rays 

 close inward with recurved tips at night, and when 

 they finally fade, they assume the same position, and 

 incidentally give an untidy appearance to the other- 

 wise neat and trim flowering top. 



WAVY-LEAF, OR VARIOUS-LEAVED ASTER. 

 SMALL FLEABANE 



Aster undulatus. Thistle Family. 



A stiff, slender and very rough stalk is possessed 

 by this species, and it grows from one to three and a half 

 feet high, with a spreading top. The leaves are 

 noticeably thick-textured, rough-surfaced above, and 

 downy on the under side. They are somewhat egg- 

 shaped, with a tapering tip and have wavy or slightly 

 toothed margins. The lower leaves are heart-shaped, 

 and have long, slender, margined stems. Those 

 above taper abruptly into shorter, broadened stems, 

 which are widely flared, with conspicuous wings as 

 they clasp the stalk, and this is an easy route to its 

 identity. The topmost leaves become much smaller 

 stemless, toothless and more lance-shaped, and they 

 often clasp the stalk with a heart-shaped base. The 

 flowers average less than an inch broad, and have 

 from eight to fifteen rays varying in colour from pale 

 blue to violet. The pale yellow disc florets fade to 

 brown. The numerous flower heads generally form a 

 loose terminal cluster, but are often set one-sided on 

 the spreading, swaying branches. They are common 



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