Genus 31.] 



THISTLE FAMILY 



28. Aster amethystinus Nutt. 

 Amethyst Aster. (Fig. 3762.) 



Aster amethystinus Nutt. Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. (II) 7: 

 294. 1 84 1. 



Resembles the preceding species, but is often 

 taller, sometimes 5 high. Leaves often crowded, 

 linear-lanceolate, entire, rough or hispidulous on 

 both sides, partly clasping at the sessile base, acute 

 at the apex, those of the stem i / -2 / long, 2 // -3 // 

 wide; heads rather numerous, racemose or corym- 

 bose, l /z'-\ f broad; involucre broadly turbinate, its 

 bracts much imbricated, linear, hispid, not glandu- 

 lar, the acutish green tips spreading; rays 20-30, 

 blue-purple, about 3" long; pappus brown; achenes 

 canescent. 



In moist soil, Massachusetts to southern New York, 

 eastern Pennsylvania, Illinois and Iowa. Sept. -Oct. 



29. Aster major (Hook.) Porter. Great 



Northern Aster. (Fig. 3763.) 



Aster Unalascliensis var. major Hook. Fl. Bor. Am. 



2:7. 1834. 

 Aster modestus Lindl.; Hook, loc. cit. S. 1834. 

 Aster majus Porter, Mem. Torr. Club, 5: 325. 1894. 



Stem stout, leafy to the summit, usually densely 

 pilose-pubescent with many-celled hairs, rarely 

 glabrate, branched above, 4-6 high. Leaves 

 membranous, lanceolate, partly clasping by a 

 narrowed base, acuminate at the apex, sharply 

 serrate with low distant teeth, dark green and 

 slightly pubescent above, villous-pubescent on the 

 veins beneath, 3 / -5 / long, 5 // -io // wide; heads 

 mostly solitary at the ends of short branches, 1%' 

 broad; involucre hemispheric, its bracts little im- 

 bricated, green, linear-subulate, densely glan- 

 dular; rays 35-45, purple, $"-')" long; achenes 

 appressed-pubescent; pappus tawny. 

 In moist soil, western Ontario to Dakota, Oregon and British Columbia. Sept.-Oct. 



30. Aster puniceus L,. Red-stalk or 

 Purple-stem Aster. (Fig. 3764.) 



Aster puniceus L. Sp. PI. 875. 1753. 



Stem usually stout, reddish, corymbosely or 

 racemosely branched above, hispid with rigid 

 hairs, 3-S high. Leaves lanceolate to oblong- 

 lanceolate, acuminate, sessile and clasping by a 

 broad ornarrow r ed base, sharply serrate, or some 

 of them entire, usually very rough above, pubes- 

 cent on the midrib beneath, 3 / -6 / long, yi'-iyi' 

 wide; heads generally numerous, iZ-l^' broad; 

 involucre nearly hemispheric, its bracts linear 

 or oblong, attenuate,imbricated in about 2 series, 

 glabrous or ciliate, green, loose, spreading, 

 nearly equal, sometimes broadened; rays 20- 

 40, violet-purple or pale, 5 // ~7 // long, showy; 

 pappus nearly white; achenes pubescent. 



In swamps, Nova Scotia to western Ontario and 

 Minnesota, south to North Carolina, Ohio and 

 Michigan. Called also Early Purple Aster, Swan- 

 weed, Cocash, Meadow Scabish. July-Nov. 



Aster puniceus firmus (Nees) T. & 

 Aster firmus Nees, Syn. Ast. 25. 1818. 

 Aster puniceus var. laevicaulis A. Gray, Syn. Fl. 1: Part 2, 195. 1884. 



Stem sparingly hispid, or glabrous, 2-5 high; leaves sharply serrate. 



the type. 



