composite. 163- 



3. Aster proper. Scales green or with green tips: rays numerous; pappus Iristhu 

 toft and nearly uniform; achenia flattened. 



5. A. concolor, L. SilJcy Aster. 



Stem nearly simple, wand-like; leaves oblong or lanceolate, crowded, appresscd, the 

 Tipper appearing like small bracts; heads in a simple or compound virgate raceme; 

 involucre obovoid, with closely imbricated, appresscd, somewhat rigid,, lanceolate, 

 6ilky scales, in several rows ; achenia silky 



Dry sandy soil. Aug. — Not. A handsome plant 1 to 3 feet high, sparingly 

 branched. Leaves 1 inch in length, )^ as wide, reduced in size upwards, greyish- 

 silky, and of the same hue on both sides. Heads middle-sized, in a long raceme, 

 showy. Says bright violet-purple. Pappus rust-colored. 



3. * Lower leav s not heart-shaped; the upper all sessile and more or less clcspingby 

 a cordule or aarided base; rays large, deep purple or blue. 



6. A. patans, Ait. Spreading Aster. 



Rough-pubescent; stem simple, panioulate above; leaves oblong-lanceolate or 

 ovate-oblong, generally contracted below the middle; panicle loose, few-flowered; 

 scales imbricate, lanceolate, loose. 



Dry grounds; common. Aug. — Nov. Stem 2 to 3 feet high, slender, branching 

 into a loose terminal panicle above. Leaves large, 3 to 6 inches long below, becom- 

 ing small and bract-like on the branches, all clasping by a deep auricled-he art- 

 shaped base, rough. Heads solitary, on the ends of the leafy branchlets, large, 

 with 20 to 30 violet-colored rays. 



7.' A. l^evis, L. Smooth Blue Aster. 



Yery smooth, glaucous; stem angular; leaves lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, 

 thickish, mostly entire, shining; involucre closely imbricate, with broadly-linear, 

 thick and rigid scales .ooth. 



Rich woodlands and banks; common. Sept. — Nov. A very small and beautiful 

 species, 2 to 3 feet high. Stem polished, green. Leaves rather fleshy, the upper 

 more or less clasping by an auriclcd or heart-shaped base. Heads in a close panicle, 

 large and showy, with numerous rays of a fine bright sky-blue, becoming purple, 

 and triangular green tips. 



4. * * Lower leaves oil heart-shaped and petioled, conspicuously serrate; raynbrighi 

 Hue, pale or nearly white. 



8. A. cordifolius, L. Heart-leaved Aster. 



Stem much branched above, smooth ; lower leaves all heart-shaped, on slender 

 petioles; involucre inversely conical, with closely imbricate appresscd scales, tipped 

 with short obtuse or acuiish- points. 



"Woodlands; very common. Sept., Oct. Stem 2 to 4 feet high, smooth ish below, 

 more or less pubescent above. Leaves varying from heart-shaped to narrow-ovate. 

 Lower leaves more or less winged, on hairy petioles, tpper leaves gradually reduced 

 to small bracts. Beads very numerous, in racimed panicles, rather small, angled 

 on the spreading branches. Says 10 to 15, pale-blue varying to white. 



9. A. sagittifolius, Willd. Arrow-leaved Aster. 



Stem erect, rigid, with racemose ascending branches; leaves ovate-lanceolate, 

 pointed, serrate in the middle; lower ones cordate-sagittate, on slender narrowly- 

 winged petioles; involucre oblong, with closely imbricate linear-subulate scales. 



Dry woods. Aug. — Oct. Stem 2 to 4 feet high, with erect branches above, bearing 

 numerous racemose heads, forming a compound panicle of racemes. Heads small, 

 almost sessile, each with about 12 bluish or white rays. 



10. A. undulatus, L. Wave-leaved Aster. 



Pale or somewhat hoary with close pubescence; stem spreading; leaves ovate or' 

 lanceolate, with wavy or slightly-toothed margins; heads num.erous ; in, rac«mQ§e 

 panieles; involucre obovoid, with closely imbricate scales. 



