340 COMPOSITiE. Aster. 



9. Aster sagittifolius, Willd. Arrow-leaved Aster. 



Slem strict, sniootli, tliyrsoid-racemose above , the branches erect and somewhat rigid ; 

 leaves ovate-lanceolate, attenuate-acuminate, slightly ciliate ; radical and lower cauline ovate- 

 oblong, cordate at the base, on slender narrowly winged smoothish petioles ; the uppermost 

 lanceolate or nearly linear, acuminate at each end, sessile, often entire ; heads numerous, in 

 strict dense compound racemes, on very short peduncles ; scales of the cylindraceous involucre 

 linear-subulate, appressed at the base, rather loose below. — Willd. sp. Z. p. 2035?; Nees, 

 Ast. p. 56?; Hook.jl Bor -Am. 2. p. 9 ; Torr. ^ Gr. fl. N. Avi. 2. p. 121. A. paniculatus, 

 Muhl.; Ell. sk. 2. p. 365; Darlingt. Jl. Cest. p. 464, not o{ Ait. <^c. 



Slem 2-4 feet high, with numerous erect branches above , the branchlets pubescent. 

 Radical leaves 2-5 inches long and 1-2 broad, cordate or somewhat sagittate at the base, 

 more or less pubescent, particularly underneath : petioles 2-6 inches in length : stem-leaves 

 narrowed abruptly at the base into a winged petiole ; uppermost gradually diminishing to 

 subulate bracts. Heads rather small, numerous, in crowded racemes. Scales with slender 

 pointed tips. Rays about 12, pale purple or sometimes nearly white : disk yellow, turning 

 brownish purple. 



Dry woods, in rich soil ; Yates county [Dr. Sartwell). August - October. This, although 

 a common species in the Western States, is rare in New-York and New-England. 



•**♦ Heads (small and mimcrous) paniculalc-racemoss ; scales of the campanulate or Iwmisphcrical involucre closely iiabrUaled, 

 rigidj the coriaceovs and whitish base opincsseJ^ icith abrupt vwsltii squurrosc (rr sprea/ling herbaceous tifs : achenia 

 •minutely pubescent : rays while or pale purple : stems mvch branched or diffuse : cauline leaves rigid, sessile, linear- 

 lanceolate or subulate, entire ; the radical and louxrmosl obUinceolale or spatulate, sometimes serrate. 



10. Aster ericoides, Linn. Heath-like Aster. 



Smooth or slightly hairy, racemose-compound ; peduncles mostly unilateral on the virgate 

 spreading branches ; leaves rather rigid ; the radical and lowest cauline oblanceolate or oblong- 

 spaiulalc, tapering into a short margined petiole, often serrate , the others linear-lanceolate 

 and linear-subulate ; scales of the involucre broadest at the base, with a small acute or abruptly 

 acuminate tip, the exterior ones subulate. — Linii. sp. 2. p. 875; Willd. sp. 3. p. 2021 ; 

 Piirsh, Jl. 2. ;). 516 ; Ell. sk. 2. p. 348, not of La?n. ^ Mtchx ; T<,rr. ^- Gr. Jl. N. Am. 2. 

 p. 123. A. ericoides cj- glabellus, Nees, Asl. p. 107 ; DC.prodr. 5. p. 242. A. sparsiflorus, 

 Michx.Jl. 2. p. 242 ; Willd. enum 2. p. 880 (in part), not of Pursh. A. tenuifolius, Willd. 

 sp. 3. p. 2026 (excl. syn.); Nutt. gen. 2. p. 155 ; Darlingt Jl. Cest. p. 467. A. tenuifolius 

 and ericoides, Muh'. rat. p. 77. A. dumosus, Hqff. ; Willd. envm. 2. p. 880. 



Stem 1-3 feel high, much branched often from the base, and resembling a small bush ; 

 the stem and branches rigid and brittle. Leaves very numerous ; radical and lower cauline 

 ones 2-4 inches long, and often half an inch or more in breadth ; those of the branches and 

 branchlets gradually becoming very small and narrow, with a subulate point. Heads 3-4 

 lines in diameter, solitary on the small leafy branchlets or pedicels, which are mostly arranged 



