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Descriptive Flora 



from the other asters in usually having all their numerous short 

 branches on one side, each short branch terminating in a white 

 flower, 14" or less across, and consisting of many, tiny, white ray 

 flowers and a tiny yellowish disk, and looking like many stars 

 set in tiny, leafy cups. All the leaves on the branches are 14" 

 or less long, crowded along the stem and covered with tiny short 

 hairs (seen only with a lens). The few main stem leaves out of 

 which the short branches spring are oblong linear, 1 to 2 inches 

 long. Blossoms profusely in August, September and October. 

 A characteristic plant of our chalk hills. 



Aster exilis Ell. Roadside Aster. Common Aster. 



Dusty green plant, 1 to 3 feet high, similar to Broomweed in 

 general appearance, but having tiny pale lavender flowers with 

 yellow centers, at the ends of the numerous, short, closely leaved, 

 apparently naked branches. Leaves simple, alternate. Blades 

 small, narrow, long-pointed, about 14" long, folded against the 

 stem so closely that the plant appears leafless at a distance. 

 Main stem leaves similar, linear to narrowly lanceolate, spreading 

 and often 3" long. Flowers composite, about y 2 " across, with 

 many narrow, pale lavender rays and yellow centers. Blossoms 

 in late summer and early fall. Commonly lining roadsides. Our 

 commonest Aster. The flowers are pretty in the field but are 

 not useful as the rays curl up as soon as they are picked. Also 

 close at night. 



Aster salicifolius caerulescens (DC.) A. Gray. River Aster. 



Much branched, tall plants with sprays of numerous pale 

 violet to white, late-blossoming flowers growing in low, rich, 

 damp soil close to banks of streams. Leaves simple, alternate. 

 Blades 2 to 4 inches long, broadly linear, tapering at both ends, 

 sessile, entire, and with one main vein at base. Flowers compo- 

 site, % to % i nc h across, with pale violet to whitish rays and 

 yellow to purplish centers, singly terminating short branches. 

 Similar to Aster exilis but taller, blossoms twice as large, plants 

 greener, and leaves longer and broader. These plants prefer 



