ASTER SOCIABILIS 243 
inflorescence, and short-branched rootstocks, from which the nu- 
merous stems sprout up closely, and make dense stools. 
Name, L., ** close-connected in companionship.”’ 
Fic. rA plate 6; plant from Palisades, N. J., Se. 12, '98, in hb. Bu. 
Stems slender, but strong, continuously slightly flexed but 
erect, greenish- brown, about 2 ft. high or even 3 % ft. in thickets. 
Rootstocks dark ‘brown, intertwisted into a nie coe mass, 
sprouting so closely that stems stand but an inch apart 
Leaves dark, thickish, rough dry, and somewhat so occasionally 
when growing, rather small, all much alike, continuing on short 
and narrow petioles well into the inflorescence. 
Leaf-form ovate, incurved-acuminate, about 317 x 214, with 
deep conspicuous sinus.  Leaf-substance firm or harsh.  Petioles 
slender, and chiefly sharply ascending, slightly or strongly erected. 
Teeth rather close, the back a single curve or less often somewhat 
couchant. Sinus deep and conspicuous, continuing well up or 
almost to the inflorescence. 
Inflorescence small, loosely convex-topped or few-flowered, 
with smaller clusters on short axillary branches 2 in. long or 
diminished to subsessile heads ; entire inflorescence 4 in. broad and 
6 in. high when pressed, or in most-narrowed plants 2 in. broad 
and 8 in. high. Heads Spe when remote or solitary) with 
short broad-based involucr 
Bracts rather few, riber broad, lingual and obtusish in pre- 
dominant effect, diverse and presenting 3 or rhore types, the inner 
ones taper-obtuse with green medial stripe and pale thin scarious 
edges, the inmost narrow and acutish. Some lower bracts are 
usually very short and broad, rounding at the apex. Often som 
truncate and some broadly bevelled acutish middle bracts also 
occur. Green tips very irregular, sometimes either slight or 
broad and conspicuous in the Segre row of bract 
Rays rather short, broad, 41. in. broad and p in. long, when 
dry (or larger in solitary heads), about 8 or in some colonies chiefly 
5 or 6, rounded or but slightly diminished at the apex, the curve 
of which is entire or contains I or 2 minute notches. Rays often 
virescent, especially late in the season. 
Disks turning purplish or themselves sometimes also virescent, 
the lobes deep, the bell narrow, with abrupt base and borne on a 
very slender thread. 
Achenes fusiform, pale and smooth ; the narrow annulus deep 
red, a peculiarity which seems also to be shared by A. Claytoni 
occasionally, and perhaps by other species. 
— Grows in dense stools a foot or two through, or even 3 ft., 
