COMPOSITE. 160 



16. A. simplex, Willd. Simple Aster. 



Nearly smooth; stem tall and much hranched ; leaves lanceolate, pointed, the 

 lower serrate; involucre loosely imbricate 'with linear awl-shaped scales. 



Shady nioist banks: common. Aug. — Oct. Another variable species from 1 to 

 5 feet high, the branches and scattered heads somewhat-corymbose at the summit; 

 Leaves sessile, 2 to 4 inches long, b< to 1 inch wiele. tapering to a slender point, 

 those of the branches small in proportion. Heads middle-size, loosely racemose or 

 a little crowded on the short branchlets. Rays pale purple. Disk' yellowish, at 

 length purple-brown. 



17. A. tenuifolius, L. Slender-leaved Aster. 



Nearly smooth; leaves linear-lanceolate, tapering into a long slender point; 

 lencer somewhat serrate in" the middle; involucre hemispcrical, with closely imbri- 

 cated, numerous, linear-awl-shaped, acute scales; heads in panicles or racemes. 



Low grounds. Aug.— Nor. Stem 2 to 5 feet high, mostly stout, much branched. 

 Stem leaves 2 to 6 inches long, smaller in proportion on the branches and branch- 

 lets. Heads small or middle-sized. Hays 20 to 30, short and narrow, pale purpl© 

 or whitish. 



18. A. carneus, L. Flesli-cohred Aster. 



Smooth, rough or pubescent : stent much branched ; leaves lanceolate, pointed ; 

 upper short and partly clasping; involucre obovate, with closely imbricated, lancco- 

 late, abruptly acute scales; heads racemose along the ascending leafy branches. 



Moist soils; rare. Sept., Oct. A handsome bushy species, very variable, about 

 Meet high. Stem often purple. Leaves firm in texture, smooth or rough above, 

 those of the stem G to 5 inches long, % inch wide, those of the branches much 

 smaller. Heads numerous, middle-sized" somewhat 1-sided on the branches. Hays 

 20 to 30, rather long, flesh-colored or nearly white. 



6. ***** Stan leaves sessile, the upper more or less clasping; Jieads middle-sized or 

 large ; rays blue or purple. 



19. A. longifolius, Lain. Long -leaved Aster. 



Smooth or nearly so; stem branched; leaves lanceolate or linear, entire or spa- 

 ring^' serrate in the middle, acuminate, shining above ; involucre imbricate with 

 linear scales in 3 to 5 rows, crowned with acute or awl-shaped spreading or recurve4 

 green tips ; heads in corymbose panicles at the summit. 



Moist places along streams; common. Nov. Stow 3 to 6 feet high. Leaves varia- 

 ble in form, the lower sometimes ovate-lanceolate, pale beneath, both sides smooth, 

 4 to 6 inches long. Heads numerous, large and showy, with 25 to 30 large bright 

 purplish-blue rays. This variable plant includes several nominal species, including 

 A. laxus, Willd., A. prea?ltus, Poir., and A. elodes, Torr. <fc Gray. 



20. A. ETJNICEUS, L. Rough-stemmed Aster. Cocash. 



Stem hisped, stout; leaves oblong-lanceolate, clasping by an auricled base, coarsely 

 serrate in the middle; involucre scales loose, narrowly linear, acute, equal in about 

 2 rows; heads in panicles. 



Low thickets and swamps: common. Aug. — Oct. Stem 3 to 6 feet high, usually 

 purple and very rough with rigid bristly hairs. Leaves sparingly toothed in the 

 middle, rough above, nearly smooth beneath. Heads large and showy. Hays 50 ! 

 to 80, long and narrow, lilac-purple or bluish. 



21. A. prenaxthoides, Muhl. Prenantlies-lihe Aster. 



Stem low, and with the branches hairy in lines; leaves spatulate-lanceolatc o» 

 ovate-lanceolate, incisely serrate in the middle ; involucre imbricated, with narrowly 

 linear scales, crowned with recurved spreading tips; heads in corymbose panicles. 



Moist woods. Sept., Oct. Slem 1 to 3 feet high, sparingly branched. Leaves 

 conspicuously acuminate, tapering below into a long contracted entire portion, 

 which is abruptly dilated into an auricled-heart-shaped clasping base; branch 

 leaves smaller, nearly entire. Heads about middle-size, rather few, clustered; 

 toward* the ends of the branches. Hays violet, lilac or light-blue. 



