OF ORNAMENTAL PERENNIALS. 179 
1.— ASTER ALPINUS, Lin. THE ALPINE ASTER, OR STARWORT. 
Synonyme. — A. montanus, Bauh. I Specific CHAaACTER, — Leaves subspatbulate, hairy, entire. Stem 
Engrayinos.— Bot. Mag. t. 199 ; and omfig. 2 in Plate 43. | simple, one-flowered. 
Description, &c. — This very pretty little plant does not grow more than six inches high on its native 
mountains, and even in gardens does not exceed the height of six or eight inches. Its flowers are large and 
showy, the disk being yellow and the ray purple. It should be grown in moist, stiflf soil, and if planted on 
rockwork, it should be frequently watered. It is a native of the Alps of Austria and Switzerland, whence it 
was introduced in 1658. It flowers in May and June, continuing in blossom a month or six weeks. It is very 
well adapted for the beds in a geometrical garden, from the dwarfness of the plants and the large size and showy 
colours of the flowers. 
2.— ASTER AMELLUS, Lin. THE ITALIAN MICHAELMAS DAISY. 
Synonymes. — A. vulgaris, Bauh.; A. atticus, Dod, i Specific Characteii. — Leaves oblong-lanceolate, entire, scabrous. 
Engravings. — Bot. Reg. t. 340 ; and our^^. 1 in Plate 43. | Branches corymbose. Caly-t imbricated, subsquamose. 
Description, &c. — This very handsome species has been supposed to be the Amellus of Virgil, as it is a 
native of Italy and other parts of the south of Europe, where it grows wild in meadows. In England it is a 
hardy perennial plant, flowering from August to September. It was introduced before 1596, and was one of 
the plants grown by Gerard in his garden in Holbom, then a suburb of London. 
OTHER SPECIES OF ASTER. 
All the numerous species of Aster bear so very strong a resemblance to each other that I have not thought it 
necessary to describe them in detail, but will merely mention a few of the most ornamental species below. 
A. NOV^ ANGLIC, Lin., Bot. Reg. 183. 
This very showy species is remarkable for the rich dark purple of the florets of the ray, all of which bend 
downwards. The stem, footstalks, and the tip of the bracts are all pink, and there is a variety which has the 
ray pink also. It is a native of North America, whence it was introduced in 1710. 
A. GRANDIFLORUS, Lin. ; Bot. Reg. t. 273. 
As the last-mentioned Aster was the first species introduced from North America, this was probably the 
second, as it was sent home by Catesby in 1720. Since that period, more than sixty American species have 
been described and introduced. It is a hardy, tall-growing plant, but badly named, as the flowers are by no 
means large. 
A. SALSUGINOSUS, liich. ; Bot. Mag. t. 2942. 
A handsome species, not branched, and with single flowers. It is a native of the salt plains of the Athabosca, 
in North America, where it was found by Dr. Richardson, during his journey with Captain Franklin, in 
search of the North-west Passage. It was introduced in 1828, and it flowers in May. 
A. SPECTABILTS, Ait. ; A. ELEGANS, Willd. ; Bot. Reg. t. 1527. 
A very handsome species ; a true Michaelmas Daisy, with the flowers in corymbs, and appearing in September 
and October. A native of North America, introduced in 1777- 
A. PATENS, Swt. Brit. Flow. Gard. t. 234. 
A rather small-flowered, and not very handsome, American species ; introduced in 1773. 
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