Aster. COMfOSIT^. 339 



serrate ; the radical and lowest cauline cordate, on slender slightly margined petioles, which 

 are usually dilated and clasping at the base ; the others abruptly contracted into a short 

 broadly winged clasping petiole, the uppermost cordate-clasping ; involucre nearly the length 

 of the disk ; the scales linear, mostly acute, pubescent, closely imbricated. — Linn. hort. Cliff. 

 p.AOQ, and sp.^Qd. l.)2. p. 875?; Fursh,Jl. 2. p. 551 ; Nees, Ast. p. 57 ; Beck, bot. p. 186; 

 Darlingt.Jl. Cest. p. 464 ; Torr. <^ Gr.jl. N. Am. 2. p. 119. A. diversifolius, Michx.Jl. 2. 

 p. 113; Ell. sk. 2. p. 361 ; Bigel. Jl. Host. ;>. 312 ; DC. prodr. 5. p. 234. A. sagittifolius 

 and scaber. Ell. I. c. 



Stem 15-3 feet high, for the most part pyramidally branched at the summit ; the branches 

 and branchlcts with small lanceolate and subulate leaves. Radical and lower cauline leaves 

 1^-4 inches long, varying from broadly ovate to ovate-lanceolate, sometimes minutely and 

 softly pubescent on both sides, but usually rough above, remotely crenate or serrate ; pri- 

 mordial ones often obtuse or reniform : petioles 1-3 inches long. Heads of flowers middle- 

 sized, rather loosely disposed on the branches ; the peduncles pubescent. Scales of the 

 involucre nearly membranaceous, acute green at the tip, ciliate. Rays pale violet blue : disk 

 yellow, turning purplish. Pappus tawny or brownish. Achenia 5-ribbed, slightly pubescent 

 when young, nearly smooth when mature. 



Dry woods and copses ; very common. September - October. 



8. Aster cordifolius, Linn. Heart-leaved Aster. 



Stem often flexuous, racemose-paniculate at the summit ; radical and lower cauline leaves 

 cordate, acuminate, sharply serrate, on slender naked or margined and ciliate petioles ; heads 

 numerous or somewhat crowded, in oblong spreading or divaricate panicles ; scales of the 

 involucre closely imbricated, rather obtuse, appresscd, with short green tips ; achenia smooth. 

 — Li7in. sp. 2. p. 875 ; Miclix. Jl. 2. p. 114 ; Fursh, Jl. 2. p. 552 ; Ell. sk. 2. p. 365 ; 

 Lindl. hot. reg. t. 1597 ; Bigel. fl. Bost. p. 212 ; Beck, hot. p. 187 ; Darlingt. Jl. Cest, 

 p. 463 ; Torr. ^ Gr. Jl. N. Am. 2. p. 120. A. paniculatus. Ait. Kew. (ed. 1.) 3. p. 207 ; 

 Pursh, I. c. A. heteroph3'llus, Willd. enum. 2. p. 882. A. cordifolius, hetcrophyllus and 

 paniculatus (chiefly), Nees, Ast. p. 52 <J- 55 ; DC. prodr. 5. p. 233. 



Stem 1-3 feet high, smoothish or a little pubescent below, often somewhat hairy or roughish 

 above. Leaves rather membranaceous, varying from broadly lo narrowly ovate, usually smooth 

 or only a little rough above and pubescent underneath, sometimes nearly smooth both sides, 

 coarsely serrate ; the radical and lower cauline ones 2-4 inches long, with the petioles slender 

 and narrowly winged ; the upper ones, and those of the branchlets, gradually diminishing in 

 size to subulate bracts. Branches of the panicle open or contracted. Heads small, crowded 

 on the spreading branches. Scales of the involucre small, whitish, green at the extremity, 

 often purple at the apex, minutely pubescent-ciliate. Rays about 12, pale violet (or nearly 

 white in shady places) ; disk yellowish, changing to purple. 



Woods, generally in fertile soil ; common. September. 



43* 



