156 



Asler Chincnsis. 



ASTER CHINENSIS,— ^j/«., CALLISTEPHUS CHINENSIS. 



Among the numerous classes of flowers which have received the attention 

 of florists, none have been more wonderfully improved and beautified than 

 the aster, which may now be considered as one of the leading flowers of 

 the garden. 



Aster, the old-fashioned name of this interesting and ornamental family, 

 has been changed by botanists to Calllstephus, from the Greek, meaning 



'^^ 





beautiful crown; which name is appropriate for the superb improved 

 varieties of this popular flower. Probably this new name may not be 

 generally adopted for some time to come, notwithstanding the propriety of 

 calling every thing by the right name. 



In its unimproved state, the florets of the disk, or centre, of the flower, 

 are all perfect ; that is, bearing both stamens and pistils, producing an 

 abundance of seed ; while the flat florets of the ray (the ornamental por- 

 tion of the flower) are .merely pistiliferous without stamens : thus, when 



