Descriptive Flora 



223 



moisture, are very pretty in the fall, and especially attractive in 

 neglected yards where they have grown voluntarily. 



Aster sagittifolius dissitiflorus Burgess. Amethyst Aster. 



Late summer and fall blossoming plants, 1 to 4 feet high, 

 with short, slender, leafy, ascending branches terminating in 

 sprays of numerous, crowded, delicate lavender or purplish-blue 

 flowers. Leaves simple, alternate. Lower leaf blades ovate to 

 broadly lanceolate with heart-shaped base, sharply toothed 

 margin, and on slender or narrowly winged petioles. Upper 

 stem blades lanceolate, rounded or heart-shaped at base, usually 

 on short margined petioles. Those on the ultimate " flowering' r 

 branches chiefly sessile, lanceolate, entire, much smaller, 14 to 1" 

 long, fairly numerous. Flowers composite, about %" across, 

 with 8 to 15 slender purplish-blue rays (6-8mm. long) . Bracts of 

 the involucre linear, green, slightly spreading and in several 

 rows. August, September and October. In rich shaded soiL 



Aster temnus Burgess Texas Aster, 



Similar to Aster sagittifolius in general appearance and 

 time of blossoming but leaves have an open sinus instead of a 

 deep and narrow sinus. Flowers solitary on short leafy (the 

 leaves about long) stems, y 2 to 3 inches long, that branch 

 off the upper lateral ascending branches. Uppermost leaves, 

 numerous, ovate to narrowly elliptical, about V2" l° n g> entire. 

 Lower sTem leaves oval-acute, shallowly crenate-serrate. Flowers 

 similar to Aster sagittifolius. Plants usually profusely branched, 

 with rigid stems, the ascending branches closely short branched 

 and terminating in a violet or blue flower. In thickets. Fall. 



Erigeron pMladelpMcus L. Daisy Fleabane. 



Philadelphia Fleabane. 

 Rather soft-leaved, usually hairy and grooved stemmed 

 plants, 1 to 2 feet tall, topped with loose clusters of drooping 

 buds and white or pinkish flowers about %" across, with con- 

 spicuous yellow centers and a fringe of 100 or more white or 



