20 
The Ohio Naturalist. 
[Vol. IV, No. 1 , 
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MINOR PLANT NOTES, No. 5. 
W. A. KELI.ERMAN. 
White Heath Aster. — Some notes were given in a former 
number of the Ohio Naturalist concerning the Aster ericoides, 
the White Heath Aster. Opportunity was afforded in 1903 to 
see the behavior of this species in Washington 
County, Ohio. Here, as was the case in Adams 
County, the plant, if unmolested, soon takes full 
possession of the pastures and roadsides, and all 
neglected arable ground. While it does pre- 
vent washing of the hilLsides, it would not seem 
to be a profitable plant to grow or to let grow for 
this purpose; grasses rather should be cultivated. 
The thrifty farmer apparently has no anno\-ance 
from this weed, since it does not venture to grow 
on ground occupied u'Hh properly cultivated crops. 
It is believed that the former e.stimate and judg- 
ment relative to Aster ericoides does not need 
revision. 
Be-VT Th.vt ? — At the end of the previous 
growing season there was found in a garden, a 
beet (not a dead beet) that had been evidently 
struggling heroically against adverse circumstan- 
ces. Adjacent sweet pea vines, not properly 
supported, had fallen over and partially .smoth- 
erecl a row of garden beets. One of these made 
an effort to reach up to the light but was caught 
again and dragged down. It evidently per- 
sisted in its efforts and the result is shown in the 
marginal figure reproduced from a photograph. 
The stem sent up manj' many small branches 
whose small leaves obtained the neces.sary sun- 
.shine. This struggle for existence also awakened 
the instinct of reproduction and according!}’ an 
elongated inflorescence was formed. Nnmerous 
flowers and .some fruits were produced. The total 
length of the stem was six feet. j 
Abxorjial Leaves of Aesculus Glahra. — 
A very striking case of abnormal leaves was 
recently noticed near Columbus, in a grove of 
small trees of the Ohio Buckeye, Aesculus glabra. 
Earlier in thesea.son they had been cjuite denuded 
of leaves by insect depredation. A den.se tuft of leaves termina- 
ted each of the twigs — in itself conspicuous — and nearly half of 
the new leaves were more or less aborted and abnormal. The 
