GOLDEN-ROD AND ASTER 



ing plant, somewhat suggestive of an evergreen, 

 with little, narrow, rigid leaves, and small, crowded 

 flower-heads. 



The tall, stout stems and large violet heads of 

 the New England aster mark one of the most 

 striking of the purple species. It floods with Purple 

 color the low meadows and moist hollows along s P ecus 

 the road side, while the wood-borders are light- 

 ened by the pale blue rays of the heart-leaved 

 variety. 



There are many other species without English 

 titles which can hardly be described without the 

 aid of technical terms. Even the trained botanist Difficulty 

 finds himself daunted at times in his efforts to ^Jion^' 

 identify the various species, while the beginner 

 is sure to be sorely tried if he set himself this 

 task. Yet if he persevere he will be rewarded, as 

 every road-side will supply an absorbing problem ; 

 for there is a decided fascination in detecting the 

 individual traits of plants that to the untrained 

 eye have nothing to distinguish them from one 

 another. The significance of the scientific title 

 of the genus Aster is easily appreciated, for the 

 effect of its flowers is peculiarly star-like. 



The red-purple clusters of the iron-weed are 

 often mistaken for asters by those who are not 

 sufficiently observant to notice that its flower- 

 heads are composed entirely of tubular blossoms, 



157 



