HISTORY OF BIOTIAN ASTERS 
THE BioriAN SECTION 
Two species of Biotian Asters were recognized by Linnaeus 
and by Asa Gray; A. divaricatus and A. macrophyllus. Six were 
recognized by De Candolle in 1836; previous to my own work 
some 27 different names for species or varieties had appeared, 11 
of which represented plants now regarded as genuine Biotian 
species. The species described in the present monograph con- 
sist of the six known to De Candolle, two others before named 
by Bernhardi and one by Cassini, two species named by Asa Gray, 
eight which I published in Britton and Brown’s Flora in 1898, one 
more in Britton’s Manual, 1901, seven others in Small’s South- 
eastern Flora in 1903, and about 56 in the present volume ; also 
one now first published, A. suóznuteger, named by Mr. E. P. Bicknell. 
The number of Biotian species here admitted would be much 
more increased were it not for my holding back all the less dis- 
tinct forms, some 60 of which I here describe under A. divaricatus 
by provisional English names. Between one and two hundred 
more are also listed merely as forms under the species following. 
As a rule, other sections of Aster either do not equal the Biotian 
in their number of variant forms or have been already more fully 
described ; no such great increase in species recognized is to be 
expected in most of the other groups. 
Biotian Asters are like the Heterophylli and unlike other Asters 
in producing some cordate leaves. They are distinguished from 
the Zeterophylli by their broader, thicker, more coriaceous bracts 
and their more corymbose and less floriferous inflorescence. From 
these and all other Asters the Biotian section is distinguishable by 
certain indefinable characteristics of aspect, including the following 
as frequent factors aiding to produce the complex result : 
I. Larger basal leaves. 
2. Greater diminution and diversity from the basal leaves up 
the stem. 
3. Tendency to form large, leafy, sterile colonies. 
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