324 LXXV. COMPOSITE. ASTER. 



proximate, short, of the stem long, of the root oblong-spatulate ; invol. some- 

 what squarrose, Grows in rocky fields, in most of the States. Stem 1 3f 

 high, with numerous brittle branches and branchlets forming a thick bush and 

 terminated each by a single pale purple flower. Leaves rather numerous, the 

 cauline ones 3' in length. Heads small, about 20-rayed. Sept. 



34. A. MULTIFLORUS. Many-flowered Aster. 



Hairy or pubescent ; st. diffusely branched ; Ivs. linear, entire, sessile, pu- 

 bescent, margins subciliate ; invol. imbricate, squarrose, linear or spatulate, 

 with oblong, ciliate scales. A very branching, diffuse species, with very nu- 

 merous, small flowers crowded on the racemose branches, each with abo'ut 12 

 white rays. Stem variously pubescent, 1 2f high. Leaves 1 2' long, obtuse, 

 very narrow. Rocks and dry fields, U. S. Variable. Sept. 



35. A. PRJEALTUS. Poir. (A. salicifolius. Ait.} Willow-leaved Aster. 



St. corymbosely-paniculate, with hairy lines above ; Ivs. lanceolate, close- 

 ly sessile or subamplexicaul, smooth and shining above, with a rough margin, 

 subserrate or entire, acute, the lower ones narrowed towards the base ; invol. 

 loosely imbricated with acute, green-tipped, linear scales. Common in moist 

 woods and by streams (N. H. toWis. Laphamf), varying from 2 to 3f in 

 height. The stem is slender, often flexuous, green or often purple, dividing 

 above into flowering branches, arranged in a sort of corymbose panicle of large 

 and showy blue flowers. Aug. Oct. 



36. A. ELODES. Torr. & Gray. Swamp Aster. 



Glabrous and very smooth; branches corymbose-paniculate; Ivs. linear- 

 lanceolate, entire, shining, thick, upper ones somewhat clasping; invol. closely 

 imbricated in several rows of linear, green-pointed, spreading scales. In 

 swamps, Mass, to Va. Stem 1 2f high, with very smooth foliage and large, 

 showy, blue flowers. Aug. Sept. 



37. A. OBLONGIFOLIUS. Nutt. (and A. graveolens. Nutt.} Oblong-leaved 

 Aster. St. rigid, diffusely branched, hairy ; brandies spreading, with loose 



and irregular branchlets ; Ivs. oblong-lanceolate, acute, mucronate, partly clasp- 

 ing, entire, rough-edged, abruptly reduced on the branches and branchlets ; has. 

 solitary, terminal on the slender branchlets ; involucre scales nearly equal, green, 

 spreading. Prairies, &c. Western States! Plant 1 2f high, often glandular- 

 viscid. Cauline leaves 1220" by 35" ; those of the branches 6" by 2", of 

 the branchlets 3" by ", indistinguishable from the scales. Rays purple. Pap- 

 pus brownish. Sept. Oct. 

 Scales imbricated, scarious on the margins, destitute of green tips. 



38. A. ACUMINATUS. Michx. Acuminate Wood Aster. 



St. simple, flexuous, angular, branching into a corymbose panicle above ; 

 Ivs. broad-lanceolate, narrowed and entire at the base, serrate and acuminate ; 

 invol. scales lax, linear. Mountains and woods, Can., N. Eng., N. Y. Stem a 

 foot high, rough, downy. Leaves large, unequally and remotely serrate above, 

 and ending in a long, acuminate point. Panicle corymbose, terminal, few- 

 flowered, nearly or quite naked. The leaves are mostly situated just below the 

 corymb, sometimes scattered. Heads rather large, with about 15 long, white 

 rays. Aug. 



39. A. NEMORALIS. Ait. (A. Isedifolius. Ph. A. uniflorus. MX.} Wood 

 Aster. Branches corymbed or ; ped. 1-flowered, nearly naked, filiform ; 



Ivs. linear-lanceolate, acute at each end, veinless, revolute-margined, roughish; 

 scales of the involucre very acute, loose, shorter than the disk ; rays about 20. 

 A handsome plant, in swampy woods, N. H. Starrs! Mass. Robbins! to N. J. 

 Rather rare. Stem slender, 10 20' high. Leaves numerous, 10 18" by 2 4", 

 rarely subdentate. Heads large, few, often but one, terminating the simple 

 axis. Rays large, white or pale purple. Sept. Oct. 



40. A. FTARMicdlDEs. T. & G. (Heliastrum album. DC. Chrysopsis alba. 

 Nutt.} St. corymbose-fasti giate above; Ivs. linear-lanceolate, acute, 



rough-margined, entire, lower ones dentate, attenuated into a short petiole ; 

 rays short. A very distinct Aster, low and leafy, found in rocky soils, by streams 

 and lakes, Vt. Bobbins, to Mo. Rare. Stems clustered, simple, each bearing 



