GENUS 31. THISTLE FAMILY. 427 
55. Aster vimineus Lam. Small White Aster. Fig. 4336. 
Aster vimineus Lam. Encycl. 1: 306. 1783. WZ Z 
Aster foliolosus Ait. Hort. Kew. 3: 203. 1789. pues Zs a 
Aster Tradescanti T. & G. Fl. N. A. 2: 129. 1841. Not wii WS? 
L. 1753. we W ye 
Aster vimineus foliolosus A. Gray, Syn. Fl. 1: Part 2, NK- Sy 
186, 1884. : (A 
_Glabrous or nearly so throughout; stem slender, 
divergently branched, 2°-5° high. Stem leaves linear- 
lanceolate, entire, or with a few low teeth, 3’-5’ 
long, 2’-4” wide, acuminate at the apex, narrowed 
toa sessile base, those of the branches much smaller; 
heads very numerous, small, 3”-5” broad, 2”-3” 
high, generally densely racemose-secund, sometimes 
subpaniculate, short-peduncled; involucre broadly 
turbinate, its bracts linear, acute or acutish, imbri- 
cated in about 3 series, green-tipped, appressed; 
Tays numerous, about 2” long, white to purplish; 
pappus white; achenes minutely pubescent. 
VEY w. 
y : Lk g 
In moist soil, Ontario to Florida, west to Minnesot WOGE 
and Arkansas. Aug.—Sept. creas Wy. 
Ai 
Aster racemésus Ell., with smaller heads, the leaves 
all very small, of the Southeastern States, apparently 
occurs in extreme southern Illinois. 
56. Aster multifldrus Ait. Dense-flowered 
Aster. White Wreath Aster. Fig. 4337. 
Aster multifiorus Ait. Hort. Kew. 3: 203. 17809. 
A, multiflorus stricticaulis T.& G. FI.N.A.2:125. 1841. 
A, multiflorus exiguus Fernald, Rhodora 1: 187. 1899. 
A, exiguus Rydb. Bull. Torr. Club 28: 505. 1901. 
A, polycephalus Rydb. Bull. Torr. Club 33: 153. 1906. 
Stem strict, much branched and bushy, rough- 
pubescent or scabrous, 1°-7° high, the branches as- 
cending or spreading. Leaves rigid, linear or linear- 
oblong, entire, mostly obtuse, sessile or slightly 
clasping at the base, rough and ciliate, those of the 
stem 47-13’ long, those of the branches very small 
and crowded; heads 3-4” broad, densely crowded, 
nearly sessile, sometimes slightly secund on the 
branches; involucre 2-3” high, its bracts coriaceous, 
mostly ciliate or pubescent, in 3 or 4 series, their 
short green tips obtuse or mucronate, spreading; 
rays 10-20, white, 13”-2” long; pappus brownish 
white; achenes puberulent. 
In dry open places, Maine and Ontario to Alberta, 
Georgia, Texas and Arizona. Consists of many slightly 
differing races. Fall-flower. Aug.—Nov. 
57. Aster commutatus (T. & G.) A. Gray. 
White Prairie Aster. Fig. 4338. 
Aster ramulosus var. incanopilosus Lindl. in DC. Prodr. 5: 
243. 1836. 
Aster multiflorus var. commutatus T. & G. Fl. N. A. 2: 125. 
1841. ' 
Aster commutatus A. Gray, Syn. Fl. 1: Part 2, 185. 1884. 
A. incanopilosus Sheldon, Bull. Torr. Club 20: 286. 1893. 
Similar to the preceding species, except in.the inflores- 
cence, the stem rough-pubescent, or sometimes nearly 
glabrous, 13°-23° high, with ascending or divergent 
branches. Leaves linear or linear-oblong, obtuse, entire, 
sessile or slightly clasping at the base, those of the stem 
1’ x long; heads larger than those of A. multiflorus, 
6’-8” broad; involucre 3-4” high, its ciliate bracts 
squarrose-tipped and sometimes foliaceous; rays 20-30, 
about 3” long. 
On prairies and along rivers, Minnesota to Saskatchewan, 
Nebraska, Texas and New Mexico. Aug.—Oct. 
