244 SOMMERS— NOVA SCOTIA COMPOSITE ASTERS. 



pound. In some the leaves are very small, in others large ; the 

 stem simple or much branched ; all have dentserrate leaves, 

 minute flowers, and a general resemblance, which enables us to 

 separate them from other asters. 



A. Miser. Simply racemose or paniculate. 



Yar. Diffusus compound racemose. Mostly 



inhabitants of dry hill pastures ; flowering in Sept. 



Aster, acuminatus. — Michx. 



Stem 1° to 1£°, simple flexuous, somewhat irregular, hairy; 

 branching paniculate corymbose above; branches almost naked; 

 one or more flowered ; pedicels having a midway bract ; heads 

 large, involucrum, single rowed, often an irregular outer one ; scales 

 linear acute, erect channelled ; margins and tips scarious ; rays 

 about twelve, twice longer than the disk, white with a purple or 

 roseate tinge ; achajnia smooth ; leaves mostly below or at origin of 

 branches, in some appearing to be rosulate, broad lanceolate, feather 

 veined, remotely and irregularly serrated near the long acuminate 

 point, entire towards the cuneate base. Sessile, 2' to 2 £', veins 

 with scattered hairs ; upper surface rough, dull green ; inhabits 

 wooded hills, dry and shady places, flowers early — July, August ; 

 a species easily distinguished by the characters of its stem leaves 

 and flowers, yet it has apparently three rather distinct forms, one 

 with a zigzag stem, leaves regularly alternate, numerous heads on 

 simple branches, another with the stem also flexuous, but the leaves 

 are crowded at the centre, appearing whorled or rosulate, with simple 

 single or twin-flowered branches springing from the leaves, giving 

 an umbellated appearance, a third more robust than the two former, 

 leaves arranged in general like the second var., but more abundant 

 and scattered ; the leaves are also somewhat coriaceous, rugose 

 shorter and narrower than in the others, the heads more numerous 

 and corymbose, the rays more numerous, purple or slaty in color, 

 it flourishes in clearings or exposed situations, while the others 

 flourish best in the shade. 



