Smooth Aster (Aster Icevis ) is a handsome species 
having a smooth, stout stem, from 2 to 4 feet high. 
The flowers are in lovely terminal clusters, each blossom 
measuring about an inch across; they are usually light 
violet blue in color, although color is very variable with 
all the so-called blue asters; each disk is surrounded 
by 15 to 30 rays. The leaves are nearly smooth-edged, 
lanceolate, clasping the stem with a distinct heart- 
shaped base. The Smooth Aster is abundant from Me. 
to Minn, and southwards, growing in dry soil and bloom¬ 
ing in September and October. 
New York Aster (Aster novi-belgii) is one of the 
very commonest of the “ blue asters.” The stalk is 
slender, very branchy and grows from 1 to 3 feet in 
height. The leaves are commonly narrowly lanceolate 
but are very variable; they slightly clasp the stem with 
their bases. The numerous flower heads are a trifle 
more than an inch across, the yellowish center being 
surrounded by 15 to 24 lilac or blue-violet rays. This 
species abounds from Newfoundland to Florida and per¬ 
haps west to the Miss. Valley. It blooms in September 
and October. 
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