232 DESCRIPTION OF ASTERS; DIVARICATI 
Distinctions between A. mollescens and its ally A. Clayton are 
as follows : Sinus in A. mollescens broad, shallow and slight; not 
narrow, deep and strong as in A. Claytont, which may have shallow 
and slight sinuses among the higher leaves only. Bracts in A. 
mollescens narrow-lingual, uniform, but little tapered ; but in 24. 
Claytoni diverse, chanfer- or taper-obtuse, the inner very much 
narrowed.  Axiles, again, are chiefly petioled, elongated-oblong, 
with non-truncate rounded or taper base ; not, as in A. Claytont, 
sessile, elongated-triangular, with broad truncate base.  Differs 
also from A. Claytomi in its paler leaves and disks, more limp 
succulent texture, slighter teeth. 
33. Aster ardens sp. nov. 
Stout floriferous paniculately decompound plants with smooth 
shining red stem, sharp-dentate oft subsucculent leaves, triangular- 
ovate-acuminate leaf-form, multiform sinus, broad lingual uniform 
scale-like rounded bracts, diffuse prolonged pedicels, and warm 
luminous crimson or reddish-brown disks. 
i L., ardens, glowing, from the transient A of the disks. 
Fic. ren from Bryn Mawr Park, N. Y. vic., Se. 25, '97, in hb. Bu.; 
à, Varah: BOPE d, frequent upper leaf or lower j ; e, frequent upper 
axile. 
Stem rigid, brittle, usually 2 ft., sometimes over 3 ft., moder- 
ately percurrent throughout the much-branched inflorescence ; 
terete, smooth and bright red, dull and somewhat angulate when 
dry ; about 14-striate. 
Leaves full-green, chiefly yellow in autumn, of a dense firm 
texture, smooth and often subsucculent while growing, roughish 
both above and beneath when d | 
Leaf-form (seen in most caulines and lower axiles) triangular- 
ovate-acuminate with base suddenly rounding into a short wing- 
petiole. 
Lowest caulines (and in some plants, all leaves) broad and 
short, iua PM acute, with deep narrow sinus; rather small, 
3x2 in. 
Succseding et caulines larger, 414 x 3 in. or less, slender- 
leaf-outline triangular-oblong with strong incurved acumination. 
In some plants these leaves predominate over the preceding form, 
and over the next. 
SUC eS 
EAEN ae St 
Saat ee a 
pum eg eer Rao enn 
