392 DESCRIPTION OF ASTERS; MACROPHYLLI 
Stem profusely branched from near the base, terete and stout, 
undulately-ascending or often partially decumbent, glabrate and 
smooth, often 2 or 3 from one root-cluster, subsucculent like the 
leaves, 3 ft. or less. 
Surculi pale or purplish, long and stout, with scales which are 
themselves often 14 or 15 in. long and 1% in. apart 
Radical clusters of lettuce- like aspect when strongly developed, 
then of about Io or 12 leaves, of about 3 types; Ist, 1 to 4 cor- 
dated ovate or oblong acute leaves, 4 x 2%, 3 x 134, etc., with 
small sharp sinus; 2d, 1 or 2 violarial leaves, 3 x 214 in. or less, 
broad and reniform, apiculate or obtuse, with shallow brace-base 
sinus; these sometimes not developed, or replaced by little or- 
bicular forms; 3d, about 10 non-cordate oval or elliptic-oblong 
longer more- conspicuous leaves, 5 x 2 in. often, or oval and 
4 X 3, the latest ones apt to be oblanceolate with long cuneate- 
strap petiole, often 6 x 2 in., including 2 in. of petiole; the other 
radicals slender-petioled. — Sometimes the radical rosette is borne 
