COMPOSITE 



COMPOSITE COMPOSITE FAMILY 



Aster linariifolius, L. 



Light violet to pale blue Pine-starwort, 



Sandpaper-starwort, 



Late August to October Savory-leaved Aster, 



Thyme-leaved Aster. 



Aster: for derivation see concolor. 

 Linariifolius: Latin denoting linear-leaved. 



THE PREFERRED HABITAT: dry, sandy soil of the Com- 

 mons, especially in the more sterile parts. 



THE PLANT: erect, four inches to ten inches high; the 

 stem, from a woody root, tufted, corymbosely branched 

 above, with tiny, short, soft hairs or with stiff hairs. 



THE LEAVES: numerous; the uppermost reduced to bracts; 

 alternate; spreading; rigid; linear; rough on both surfaces; 

 with a tiny abrupt tip at the apex; stemless; entire on the 

 margins; those of the branches much smaller and usually 

 hairy. 



THE FLOWER HEADS: solitary, or several at the ends of the 

 stem and branches; about one inch broad; the involucre 

 broadly top-shaped; the bracts linear-lanceolate, green on 

 the back, flattened, overlapping in four or five series. 

 Rays ten to fifteen, less than one half inch long, entire or 

 their tips toothed or even torn. 



THE FRUIT: achenes; pappus tawny. 



This is the low, dark green rigid Aster of the extremely 

 sandy plain. When the plant is in bloom, its stiffness, 

 however, is slightly relieved by the pretty, wide-open 

 flowers. 



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