206 . DESCRIPTION OF ASTER; DIVARICATI 
Heads of all sizes at once, but chiefly moderate, some a little 
over I in., but many on the same plant never reaching nearly that 
breadth. Involucre rather sharp at bas 
Outer bracts rather pale, puberulent “all over, of about 3 rows, 
with narrow midrib forming a green line, oblong or shut tle- 
shaped with the sides nearly straight, obtusely pointed or the 
lowest acutish and more ovate 
Inner bracts very much longer, much narrower or attenuate 
but hardly acute, smoothish, often purpled all over or on the 
margins, of about 2 rows, the pale greenish tip disappearing with 
the innermost row. 
Rays milk-white or dull white, often olivaceous-tinged, repeat- 
edly 8, but sometimes 11, long and narrow, widest near the middle, 
curving to a narrow acuminate end, with persistently upcurved 
sides, the apex entire or but very obscurely toothed. During 
these tips, and in drying they quickly become involute-acicular. 
When flattened they show no channels, but 4 fine M lines. 
Rays when well developed "ur be l in. long, 4l in. broad, 
usually inrolled and not over 4 in. broad when dr 
Disks pale or but moderately yellow, soon olivaceous or 
greenish brown, finally dingy brown, seldom passing through any 
decidedly reddish brown stage. 
In damp hollows in beech woods, etc., best developed on 
clayey soil of Lake Erie bluffs; also observed near Boston and 
N. Y. City ; apt to form small rather loose clumps. 
Examples : 
Ms., Weston, near Charles R., Au. 28, '98 ; radicals and young stems of 6 in., 
May 7, 99; radicals still remaining, stems now 20 in., but lacking 2 weeks of blossom, 
though about 2 weeks earlier than neighboring 4. tenebrosus and A. divaricatus, Au. 
8, 1900. 
V , Bryn Mawr Park, brookbank, Se. 17, '98. Pelham Manor, 
in loosened qued, js 20," 
W. p Pt, Gratiot, Au. 29,'96, Au. 21,97, Au. 19,’98, Se. 
'99, Au., psn, I9OI, 1902, 1903, 1904. Fredonia, Marsh's woods, Au.,’97. be. 
i 5,'96. Hanover, Aster-bank in Silver Cr. gorge, Au. 17, '96 
Silver Cr., Talcott’s woods, Au. 23, '99 ; Swift's hill, Se. 1, ’99, Au., 1900. Cat- 
taraugus reservation, Little Indian banks, in tussocks s among cattails, Au. 20, ' 96, and 
Au. 24, '97; Tompkins woods, Au. 28, '99, on mound in low bushes; Skidway 
clearing, Au. 31, '99. 
— A. olivaceus is distinguished from A. divaricatus especially 
by its inflorescence, not freely diffused but of few remotish cymules 
which long retain a dense contracted habit. Its bracts are less 
truncate and ciliate, more puberulent, the inner ones more taper- 
