188 DESCRIPTION OF ASTER; DIVARICATI 
Hair not obvious, but under lens it is seen minutely present on 
leaves beneath and on some pedicels and petioles, and slightly on 
bract-margins 
Inflorescence with straight stiff filiform branches, loose and 
convex-topped ; on pressing forming a distinctly obconic deep 
sharp-based figure. In smaller plants rather close and broad, in 
large plants it becomes a foot broad and equally deep, or three 
times the usual measure for the species. 
Heads small, 34 in. broad, 1% in. high, half of which is invo- 
lucre. Involucre rather straight-sided and sharp-based, cylindrical 
in life, nearly obconic when pressed, pale and smoothish. 
Bracts lingual, abruptly rounded at the broad pale apex, with 
broad scarious thin golden-brown and paler margins, and a narrow 
obscure greenish median stripe, the ciliation irregular, scanty and 
tangled. A few lowest bracts are often acutish and elongated- 
triangular. A few innermost are wholly pale, much narrowed 
and prolonged, but still obtuse. Green tips on the predominant 
bracts are sometimes developed and are then broad, convex above 
and fading out and indefinite below. 
Rays 6 to 9, short, thinnish, with slightly curved sides, and 2 
or 3 minute teeth at the roundish apex. Disks turning brownish- 
crimson, with sharp wide-spaced lobes; the bell short, 44 or 1% 
the length of the filiform stalk. ^ Achenes narrow, smooth, with 
contracted base. Pappus soon tawny, within one year; hardly 
more so after three years. 
— Development: Radicals just starting, 34 in. long, Apr. 18, 
'99; a few 114 x 34 in. by May 10, '99. About 3 such radicals, 
preceded by 3 or even 4 tiny reddened primordials, only 14 x % 
in. or less. All leaves thin and without obvious hair. Plants 8 in. 
by July 9. 
— Delicate close-clustered plants of clayey levels or banks, in 
half shade, growing especially in company with Liquidambar 
sprouts or young chestnuts (about N. Y.); also occurring on 
clay knolls of sandy admixture, among Gaylussacia bushes (E. 
Mass. and M. V.); and extending into crevices of gneissic rocks. 
Near the coast, Maine to New Jersey. Sept. and early Oct. 
Me., S. Berwick, York Co., dry open woods, Se. 26,797. M. L. Fernald 
in hb. mer iiie hb. Bu. 
Ms., N. Bedford, Clark’s Pt., Se. 11, 97, B 
M. V., Gay Head, Blackwater Knoll, Se. 6, 95 obliterated and locality over- 
grown ms sila. Se. t T Tea Lane, Mark’s Valley bridge, Se. 6,'97 ; failed o 
account of drought, 1 istown, woods, Se. 4, '97. 
Ne Y. view; rir nie rock by Fern-swamp quarry, Se. 25, 1900. Bathgate 
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