42 VARIATION IN ASTER 
out also examining some terminal or earlier heads, which some- 
times present a regular difference from the less vigorous lateral 
ones. 
Among Biotian asters large broad bracts are most conspicu- 
ous among the Macrophyli, narrow tapering ones in A. curvescens 
and A. olivaceus. From the narrowed tips of the chief bracts results 
the conical form of the flower-bud in the Macrophylli ; from their 
undiminished roundish tips results the subglobose or ovoid bud of 
the Divaricati ; from the longer narrower bracts, the cylindrical 
bud of the Curvescentes. 
INFLORESCENCE-DEVELOPMENT 
This is usually quite characteristic of the species. Each branch 
is in certain Biotian forms so conspicuously cymose as to give a 
characteristic aspect to the plant; with lateral heads subsessile, 
yet while the central flowers are flowering on long pedicels, as 
sometimes in A. roscidus; and in allies of A. Schreberi perhaps 
representing Bernhardi's A. swbcymosus. Each branch is some- 
what so in A. curvescens and many other examples; so most 
forms of A. Schrebert. 
On the contrary in A. umbelliformis, A. Eriensis, A. Julianus, 
A. glomeratus, A. biformis and many others, the tendency is for all 
heads on a plant to come into flower at once, and to cease at 
once. 
And on the contrary in A. nobilis the outer pedicels become 
divaricated and greatly lengthened, at first suggesting a corymbose 
branch, till it is observed that the real outermost pedicels are 
still short and are deflexed underneath those which are older and 
are more horizontally prolonged. 
In A. umbelliformis numerous pedicels radiate from the top of 
the peduncles. In A. excelsior and A. macrophyllus pinguifolius it 
is frequent to find 5 pedicels so radiating. In A. macrophyllus it 
is usual to find 3, making the trifurcate inflorescence long ago 
noted by Nees. 
Branching angle is apt to be rather characteristic, after making 
allowance for occasional slight alteration due to crowded growth. 
Rameal or ramular leaves: their presence, shape, direction or 
closeness is often highly distinctive. In most of the Dévaricati 
