290 CONCERNING ASTERS 



thinks It is just as foolish not to know a flower's 

 especial name as It would be if we only knew that 

 Philip belonged to the family of Todd. 



The purple Aster that we see most often, which 

 Is In the fields with Goldenrods, white Asters, and 

 bursting Thistles, Is called either Purple Daisy, or 

 Purple Aster. I like the first name best, because 

 it looks like a purple Daisy. The flowers grow 

 alone at the ends of little branches; and I have 

 found out by counting that they have as many as 

 thirty ray flowers. The leaves are thick and stiff 

 and clutch about the rough stalk very closely. 



Grandmother often gathers Purple Daisies for 

 bouquets. When she picks them late In the day 

 they close up and go to sleep, although In the morn- 

 ing they are wide awake again. 



Another Aster that is a deeper purple than the 

 Purple Daisy and which has as many as fifty ray 

 flowers, is called New England Aster, or Star- 

 wort. Professor Bonn says it is found in many 

 places, even In Canada, so It is not easy to know 

 why it is called New England Aster. Underneath 

 the yellow flowers of the center there Is a little 

 green cup which holds them, and this part of the 

 flower Is quite sticky. The flower-heads are about 

 the same size as the Purple Daisies. The leaves 

 are the shape of lances and they clasp about the 

 stems very tightly. 



It was August v/hen this Aster first began to 

 peep out. Now It is October and It is still here. 



