ORDER 70.-X)OM:POSITJE. 425 



Ivs., growing in fields, Mass, to La. St rigid, brownish, 2 to 3f high, terete, 

 with -numerous small hds. densely racemed and somewhat 1-sided on the erect- 

 spreading, slender branches. Lower st. Ivs. 4' long, gradually reduced iu size 

 upwards, Rays pale purple. Aug. Oct. 



/?. FRAGILIS. Cauline Ivs. serrulate or entire, short ; hds, much scattered on 

 the brandies. (A. fragilis "Willd.) 



32 A. miser Ait. T. & G. STARVED ASTETL St. racemous-paniculate, hairy 

 or pubescent ; Ivs. sessile, lanceolate, sJiarply serrate in the middle ; invol. imbri- 

 cated witli lance-linear, acutish scales ; rays short A very variable species, com- 

 mon in old fields, hedges, U. S. and Can. In height it varies from 6 to 30', and 

 in luxuriance proportionately to the moisture or fertility of the soil. The st. is 

 ver}' branching or nearly simple, bearing a large, compound, racemous panicle, or 

 a few simple racemes. Lvs. narrow-lanceolate, or broad-lanceolate, always ser- 

 rate, 1 to 5' in length. Hds. usually numerous, small, with small, white or pur- 

 plish rays. Aug. Oct. (A. miser, divergens, diffusus and pendulus Ait.) 



(3. DIFFUSUS. Branches spreading, diffuse ; Ivs. elliptic-lanceolate, more or 



less narrowly so, midvein hairy beneath : hds. often, sessile, forming short, 



crowded spikes, or iong, virgatc ones. 

 v. niRSUTiCAULiS. St. hirsute ; Ivs. long and narrow, midvein hirsute ; hds. 



racomous or spicate, upper ones in short, dense branches; scales' linear. (A. 



hirsuticaulis Lindl.) 



33 A. nmltiflorus L. Grayish, pubescent; s(. diffusely branched; Ivs. linear, 

 entire, sessile, obtuse-mucronate, margins subciliate ; hds. small ; invol. imbricate, 

 squarrous, linear or spatulate, with oblong, obtuse, ciliate scales. A very bushy As- 

 ter, high, with very numerous, small fls. crowded on the racemous branches, each If 

 with about 12 white rays spreading 5 to 6". Lvs. 1 to 2' long, obtuse, very narrow, 

 diminishing upwards to the scales. Rocks and dry fields, U. S. Variable. Sept. 



34 A. grandifldrus L. Rough with stiff hairs; st. rigid, branched, branches 

 somewhat corymbed arid \-flowered; Ivs. linear-spatulate or linear-oblong, small, 

 obtuse, rigid, subclaspiug ; lids, very large ; invol. squarrous, of numerous, obtuse, 

 reflexed scales, the outer leafy. Dry, rocky places, Va. to Ga. About 2f high. 

 Lvs. below 1 to 2' long, diminishing upwards. Rays show}', spreading 18 to 20 , 

 blue-purple. Sept. Xov. ^ 



35 A. Carolinianus "\Valt. Rough-pubescent, divaricately branched; Ivs. 

 lance-ovate or oblong, acute, entire, clasping, the base abruptly produced into 

 small, auriculate lobes; hds. very large, scattered; scales imbricate, with squar- 

 rous, spreading, green tips. A showy Aster, very tall, but slender, 6 to 13f high, 

 in damp thickets, S. Car. to Fla. Lvs. 1 to 3' long, 3 to 9" wide. Rays rose- 

 purple, numerous, spreading 15''. Sept., Oct. 



36 A. oblongifolius Xutt Si. rigid, diffusely branched, hairy; branches 

 spreading, with loose and irregular branchlets ; las. oblong-lanceolate, acute, mu- 

 cronate, partly clasping, entire, rough-edged, or the branches and branchlets 

 gradually passinj into the leafy, lanceolate, subequal, spreading scales. Prairies, &c., 

 W. States. Plant 1 to 2 f high, often glandular- viscid. Cauline Ivs. 12 to 20" by 

 3 to 5"; those of the branches 6'' by 2'', of the branchlets 3" "by ^-", indistin- 

 guishable from the scales. Rays purple. Pappus brownish. Sept., Oct. (A. 

 oblongifolius and A. graveolens Nutt) 



37 A Blliottii Torr. & Gr. Glabrous, stout; st. angular; Ivs. ample, lanceolate, 

 subclasping (not auricled), serrate, with remote, small, appressed teeth; hds. 

 middle size, corymbous-panieulate; ped. naked; scales somewhat equal, linear-at- 

 tmuate, with spreading or recurved greenish tips. River-swamps, N". Car. to Ga. 

 A very stout Aster, 2 to 4f high. Lower Ivs. 6' to 8' long, narrowed to a winged 

 petiole. Rays narrow, bright parple. Pappus tawny-white. Oct.. Nov. 



38 A. virgatus Ell. Glabrous; st. and branches virgaie, strict, racemed; Ivs. 

 linear-lanceolate, entire, half-clasping, margins ciliolato-serriilato, the upper re- 

 duced, becoming subulate, erect, numerous on the branches and peduncles ; scales 

 lance-acuminate, the outer loose-spreading, graduating into the bracts ; ach. glob- 

 rou-s. Ga, to La. Sts. 2 to 3f high. Lvs. below, 3 to 6' by 3 to G'', firm and 

 shining. Sept., Oct. Probably passes into the next. 



39 A Novi Belgii L. XEW YORK ASTER. St terete, stout, often glaucous, 



