COMPOSITE FAMILY. Composite 



A similar species with fine linear leaves, 

 Bushy Aster and loose-flowering branches, the stem 

 Aster dumosus , . , , , , . 

 White or slightly fine-hairy, and sometimes brown- 



lilaowhite ish, or the whole plant quite smooth. 

 August- The little flowers, with 15-25 white or pale 



October j^ ac ra y s> are rather larger than those of 



the next species. 1-3 feet high. Dry sandy soil. Mass., 

 and Conn. , south and west to S. Dak. and Mo. 



A white-flowered species with larger 

 Aster linear, or narrow lance-shaped leaves, the 



Aster vimineus largest ones slightly sharp-toothed. Stem 

 White and leaves nearly if not quite smooth, the 



August- stem often reddish, its branches almost 



horizontal. The tiny flowers with numer- 

 ous white rays. The flowering branches very short, and 

 minutely leafy. 2-4 feet high. Common in moist places 

 and on river-banks, from southern N. Eng., south, and 

 west to Minn. , and Ark. The var. foliolosus is very leafy 

 and the branches turn upward; the linear leaves are 

 toothless, and nearly 2 inches long. The flowers in a 

 very loose cluster. 2-5 feet high. From Jaffrey, N. H., 

 south to Va., and west to Mo. 



An exceedingly common and variable 

 Calico Aster . . 



Aster lateriflorus s P ecies with a smooth, or fine-hairy, often 

 Light purple magenta-stained stem, with straggling 

 or white branches. The light green, lance-shaped 



August- leaves sparinglv toothed, and larger than 



October f . . 



any of those of the species immediately pre- 

 ceding. The little flowers scarcely inch across, with 

 numerous light purple or lilac or white rays ; the disc- 

 florets a deeper purple. 1-5 feet high. In dry fields, and 

 copses. Me. , south to N. Car. , west to S. Dak. and La. 



A slender-stemmed, much-branched 

 . white aster, with numerous flowers about 



Aster f inch broad, and with long lance-sha.ped 



Tradescanti leaves, the lower ones slightly toothed, 

 White smooth on both sides, thin, and tapering 



October" ^ a snar P point. The small flowers with 



white or lilac-white rays clustered about 

 the short upward-turned branches. 2-4 feet high. In 

 wet fields and swamps, Me., south, and west to Minn. 



40? 



