ASTER CLAYTONI 223 
expanded]: foliis inferioribus acute cordatis [in outline; cordażis here describing not 
simply the base but the general shape] serratis petiolatis alternis, supremis minoribus 
amplexicaulibus [so the truncate-based sessile axiles seem in growth, investing the stem 
somewhat conduplicately], caule ramoso subligneo fusco. Crescit saxosis lutosis et 
umbrosis, plagis occidentalibus montosis solummodo inveniendus. Initio Septembris 
floret. C/ayt. n. 767." [Written by John Clayton, apparently in or before 1755.] 
This description may have been meant by Clayton to cover 
forms which would now be classed as A. divaricatus L., in addi- 
tion to A. Claytoni for which alone it is exact and accurate. But 
the type specimen points to the latter species. 
For a long time this no. 767 remained unidentified by modern 
botanists. Perhaps some would have referred it to A. divaricatus 
L., but for the fact that Clayton's no. 143 (which is Doellingeria 
infirma Greene) had been by Linnaeus (Sp. 77. ed. I. 873. 1753) 
confused with his own A. divaricatus and cited by him as its 
synonym. 
Perhaps Clayton's description of the stem by the adjective sub- 
ligneo may have helped to defer the identification. It seems to 
have led Gronovius into the mistake of calling the species suf- 
Jruticose. But for what stems does Clayton use the term Zzgzueus ? 
We find him writing caule ligneo of Aster rigidus |i. e., single head 
plants of Jonactis linariifolius (L.) Greene] and of Artemisia cam- 
pestris L. These stems are slightly more woody than in A. Clayton, 
and 4. Claytomi is slightly more so than many other Asters. In 
short, Clayton did not apparently mean *'suffruticose"' but “ con- 
taining obvious woody tissue," which is not inappropriate to this 
very brittled-stemmed Aster. Ina similar way Clayton describes 
(ed. 2, p. 126) Helenium autumnale as “frutescens annua." 
Features in Clayton's description which are especially appro- 
priate to the plant A. CZaytozi include the following : 
1. “ Floribus in umbellula tenui laxa," This is graphic for the 
characteristic habit of each branch of the plant, as distinguished 
from the more corymbose and more divaricate heads on any 
similar branch of A. divaricatus L.; assuming as I do that 
Clayton's meanin as, ' Heads borne in loose and somewhat 
umbelliform little clusters, on slender pedicels." — Some might 
object that Clayton may mean here by foribus “ disk-flowers,” 
in opposition to his following semiffosculis, * ray-flowers." But 
Clayton's descriptions of Asters use flores to mean heads, as is 
proved by his descriptions no. 741 and no. 9, both with fore unico 
or “a single head." When he wanted to mention disk-flowers, 
