Aster. COMPOSIT.E. 335 



An immense genus, and perplexing even to the experienced botanist. Many of the species are very difficult to 

 characterize, especially those belonging to the section of Aster proper. I have followed very closely the arran<rement 

 and description of the species as they are given in the Flora of North America. " 



i) 1. BioTiA, DC. Scales apipressed, nearly destitute of herbaceous tips; bristles of the pappus unequal, 

 rather rigid, the inner series mostly a Utile thickened towards the apex ; achenia slender, 

 scarcely compressed: leaves ample, mostly petioled, coarsely serrate; the radical ones cordate. 



1. Aster corvmbosus, Ait. Corymhed Aster. 



Stem slender, often flexuous, terete ; leaves membranaceous, coarsely or incisely and un- 

 equally serrate with sharp spreading teeth, conspicuously acuminate, all but the uppermost 

 cordate and on slender naked petioles, ovate or ovate-lanceolate ; heads loosely corymbose ; 

 mvolucre shorter than the disk ; the exterior scales roundish-ovate ; rays (white) 6 - 9 — 

 Ait. Keio. (ed. 1.) 3. p. 207 ; Pursh,fl. 2. p. 552 ; Ell. sk. 2. p. 365 ; BJgel.Jl. Bost. p. 314 • 

 Torr. compend.p. 299 ; Beck, hot. p. 187. Eurybia corymbosa, Cass ; Nees, Ast. p. 143 \ 

 Lindl. hot. reg. t. 1532 ; Hook. fl. Bor.-Am. 2. p. 14 ; Darlingt. fl. Cest. p. 69. Biotia 

 corymbosa, DC. prodr. 5. p. 265. 



Stem 1^-2 feet high, smooth, often purple, corymbosely branched at the summit. Leaves 

 2-4 inches long, thin and nearly smooth, except a little pubescence on the veins underneath ; 

 uppermost ones sessile : petioles 1 - 2 inches long. Heads usually rather few, in a loose 

 fastigiate corymb. Scales of the involucre pubescent on the margin ; the rest smooth. Rays 

 narrow. Pappus tawny. Achenia nearly smooth when mature, sparsely hairy when young. 



Dry woods ; common. Fl. July - August. 



2. Aster macrophyllus, Linn. Large-leaved Aster. 



Stem stout, roughish-pubescent above, the corymbose branches rigid; leaves thickish, 

 rough, closely serrate, somewhat acuminate ; the radical and lower ones cordate, on slender 

 petioles , the upper sessile or on margined petioles ; heads in large corymbs ; involucre nearly 

 the length of the disk ; scales rigid, oblong or ovate-oblong ; rays (white or purplish) 12 - 15. 

 — Linn. sp. (ed. 2.) p. 1232 ; Michx. fl. 2. p. 114; Pursh, fl. 2. p. 552; Bigel. fl. Bast, 

 p. 314 ; Beck, hot. p. 187. Eurybia macrophylla, Cass. ; Nees, Ast. p. 140 (excl. syn. Ait. 

 divaric); Darlingt. fl. Cest. p. 465 ; Hook. fl. Bor.-Am. 2. p. 14. Biotia macrophylla, 

 DC. prodr. 5. p. 265. 



Stem 2-3 feet high, with a large corymbose summit, striate-anglcd, often purplish. 

 Radical leaves 4-8 inches long and 3 - 5 wide, roundish-cordate or cordate-oblong, coarsely 

 crenate-serrate, the teeth mucronate, a little hairy on the veins underneath : pet?oles 3-8 

 inches long : cauline leaves ovate or oblong, the lower ones abruptly narrowed into a winged 

 petiole. Heads much larger than in the preceding species ; exterior scales ciliate; inner ones 

 larger and membranaceous. Rays mostly white, sometimes pale blue. Pappus reddish- 

 tawny. 



Dry open woods ; not rare. August - September. 



Biotia Schreberi, glomerata and lalifolia, DC. seem to be only slight varieties of this 

 species. 



