431 
PARK AND CEMETERY 
Some Eittle-Known Native Ornamentals— III. 
By Wilfred A. Brotherton. 
Aster multiformis. 
The most beautiful Aster, native of Michigan ; very 
rare. Early botanists soon found the Genus Aster re- 
solving itself into various groups, — the Great-leaved 
group, the Heart-leaved group, the Amplexicaul or 
Clasping-leaved group, and the Narrow-leaved group 
At first botanists supposed that the Great-leaved group 
was composed of only one or two exceedingly variable 
species, but later research has demonstrated the exist- 
ence of some twenty very distinct species in this group, 
each having flowers of special ranges of colors. The 
finest of all this group, and of all asters I have ever 
seen, is the one I am about to describe, the Various- 
leaved Aster, so called because 3 to 5 different forms of 
leaves may be found on each plant, the lowest (root- 
leaves) being rather large and heart-shaped, with slen- 
der stalks. The plant is low, only one to two feet tall. 
The stem leaves are variable in form, usually clasping 
at base, but not all of them, and gradually smaller up- 
ward. Flower heads very large,, large as those of A. 
Novae- Anglias, the rays at first bright clear purple, 
changing in a few days to bright pink or rose, both 
these colored flowers being found in each broad termi- 
nal cluster. The plant reminds me of a greenhouse 
Cineraria more than anything else. Hry sandy locali- 
ties, very rare. 
Aster Schreberi. 
Another Aster of the Great-leaved group, with im- 
mense pale green hairy root leaves, remarkable for the 
broad square outline of the sinus (notch) at base of 
leaves, from which it can be recognized at once. Flow- 
er heads rather large, white. Grows in drier, sandier 
soils than last, and unless the soil happens to be unusu- 
ally rich is not very handsome. Occasionally in richer 
soils I have found plants with flowers decidedly hand- 
some, so believe it worthy of a trial. The root-leaves 
densely cover the ground and are often a foot long, 5 or 
6 inches wide. 
Violet- flowered cAster. Aster ranthus. 
Upon one of our highest hills, about 1000 feet above 
sea level, I have found an a,ster I think is this species, 
but am not positive. In beauty it ranks second to Aster 
multiformis, but is far a larger plant being robust and 
3 or 4 feet tall. Leaves large but smaller than last, root- 
leaves dying before plant flowers. Stems dark purple.. 
Flower-heads smaller than those of A. multiformis but 
in larger cluster, and more numerous, handsome violet 
color. 
Should one plant all the species he could obtain of 
this Great-leaved group he would be surprised at their 
wide range of color, white, rose, purple, violet, blue, 
etc., each in many shades. 
Aster Shortii. 
A rare aster of rare beauty, one of the daintiest of 
gems. Grows in clumps, 1-3 feet tall, many slender 
stems from same root-leaves, very smooth, arrow- 
shaped. Flowers in long, erect, terminal clusters, deep 
clear purple, very elegant. Sandy, partially-shaded 
river valleys. 
Azure Aster. Aster azureus. 
One of the showiest of asters, more handsome even- 
than the smooth aster A. Isevis. Size about same as A. 
laevis, and an excellent companion for it. Whole plant 
very rough ; hairy, lower leaves very handsome, arrow 
shaped, uppermost very narrow. Flower-heads smaller 
but handsomer than those of A. laevis, azure, purple, 
rose, pink to white, very numerous in terminal, long 
branching clusters. Dry, sandy hills or plains. Im- 
mensely variable. 
Bushy Aster. Aster dumosus. 
A handsome little gem six inches to one foot high, 
in a tiny clump. Many handsome pink flowers. Dry- 
ish, sandy plains. 
(To be continued.) 
