142 DESCRIPTION OF ASTERS; DIVARICATI 
the primordial) cordate-ovate, acuminate ; those next above, ovate- 
acuminate with rounded base, 4 x 2% in. or more ; then oblong- 
lanceolate, long-acuminate, with rounded base, 5 E 2 in. often. 
Predominant typical leaves follow, being the middle and upper 
caulines, sometimes including also lower caulines and axiles. 
These show the characteristic leaf- form, and are 5 x 1% in. or 
4X I in. or smaller ; upper axiles becoming sometimes still 2 x % 
in., the upper leaves becoming sessile by a sharp cuneate base ; or 
at last, directly sessile. 
Rameals lance- linear, sessile, slightly tapered at the rounding 
base, 34 x %4 in., or less; or minutely petioled. Ramulars tiny, 
ovate or circular; even these are often minutely petioled ; some- 
times they replace the preceding, 7. e., occur along primary as well 
as secondary branches.  Radicals seldom seen ; those observed 
are triangular-cordate, acute, with both straight and couchant 
teeth, 377 x 2 in,, or less ; apparently preceded by a small circu- 
lar crenated form. 
Inflorescence flattish-convex, usually a single branch, moder- 
ately close, its sia e ł in. or less, the small heads nearly simul- 
taneous in bidon, $ jg in. high, }2 in. broad, or little more. Rays 
dull white or soon becoming so, oblong, irregularly crisped in 
drying, chiefly numbering 9 or 7; rarely, fimbriated. Disks 
rather high and narrow, soon reddish-brown with a vinous-purple 
tendency, usually deepening to maroon. 
Bracts multiform, coriaceous, convex-backed, moderately 
ciliate, gradually darkened upward into a broad deep green tip. 
They are chiefly chanfer-obtuse, 7. e., bevel-topped without becom- 
ing definitely acute. With these are many acute basal bracts, and 
the middle bracts are often also acute on the central or earlier 
heads at each inflorescence-branch. Inmost bracts linear, obtuse, 
with narrow green back and pale scarious margin, which is gener- 
ally faintly or minutely present in the other bracts. 
The scarious margin of these bracts is not as white or broad 
as in A. fragrans, nor does it occur through so large a part of the 
involucre; but is more nearly the same as in A. divaricatus L. 
The involucre of A. persaliens as a whole resembles that of A. 
divaricatus more than most other species do, but its acute bracts 
are more numerous, its truncate bracts are fewer, and all have 
rather less color, ciliation, and puberulenc 
In young rapid gr rowth (as Jun. 19, on the middle cauline 
leaves and those immediately below, have a soft subglutinous 
surface. When coy smelled they piove. to have a faint delicate 
