142 



This year, 1901, I find it is still spreading to the south and 

 east as a few plants were found for the first time along a road- 

 side in the valley, perhaps a quarter of a mile away from the last- 

 mentioned locality. It has also gained a foothold in some fields 

 on the other side of a patch of woods still further south. The 

 most easterly station I have found for it is the southern slope 

 of the ridge west of Grassy Sprain Lake while the most 

 southerly is about half a mile north of Lincoln Park on the main 

 line of the New York Central and Putnam road. If it continues 

 its triumphant march to the south, it will soon cross the New 

 York City line and approach its old possessions, as there was once 

 a station for it, I believe, on Manhattan Island. 



In the two cases especially noted above it has taken Solidago 

 speciosa but three years to take complete possession of new terri- 

 tory and the goldenrods and asters th'at formerly flourished there 

 have almost disappeared. It is not only that many new plants 

 seem to spring up but the older ones increase in size very rapidly, 

 one transplanted to my garden more than doubling its size the 

 second year. Many of the old plants sent up seven or eight 

 flower-stalks this year five feet or more in height. 



Yoxkers, N. Y., November 15, 1901. 



HESPERASTER, A GENUS OF LOASACEAE 



By T. D. A. Cockerell 



Hesperaster (Western Star) ; Bartonia Sims, Bot. Mag. 36 : 

 pi. 1+87. 18 12. (Not Bartonia Muhl., a valid genus of Gcnti- 

 anaceae published in 1801.) Biennials or perennials ; petals 10 

 or fewer, narrow and pointed, conspicuous ; stamens very numer- 

 ous, up to 300 ; leaves pinnatifid with pointed lobes ; trichomes 

 barbed ; seeds numerous, mostly winged. Type Hesperaster 

 decapetalus {Bartonia decapetala Sims, /. c). The genus includes, 

 among others, the following species : 



1. Hesperaster decapetalus (Sims). In New Mexico I have 

 found this only at Raton. The flowers open at sunset, and are 

 visited by the larger SpJiingidac. Just as they open they are 

 visited also by Bombus, which can get into them when they are 



