and with the veinlets similarly reticulated ; the apex more abruptly narrowed
to a mucronate-acuminate point; those of the branches 1—2 inches long,
usually broader in proportion to their length, those of the branchlets often
very short. Heads usually larger than in A. tenuifolius, but somewhat variable
in this respect; the scales of the involucre broader and shorter, appressed
(or the outermost loose), more unequal, and regularly imbricated,
pale, with short usually rhombic-ovoid green tips, which are very slightly
spreading. Rays longer, broader, and more showy than in A. tenuifolius,
‘ flesh-colored’ (Nees), nearly white, or sometimes light violet-purple in the
wild plant; the disk often turning purplish. Alveoli of the receptacle somewhat
lacerate or laciniate.—This species was described by Nees, from specimens
of uncertain derivation, cultivated in the garden of Count Schcenborn.
Dr. Lindley identified a plant collected near Boston by Dr. Boott, with an
authentic specimen, from Nees. We have the same plant from Ohio, and
other specimens, which clearly show that A. subasper of Lindley is only a
form of this species. Although apparently distinct from both, it closely
approaches A. laxifolius on the one hand, and A. tenuifolius (with which
Nees compares it) on the other. Some states of it have not unfrequently
been labelled A. Tradescanti; a name often applied to what we consider a
form of A. tenuifolius.
53. A . Greenei : stem smooth and glabrous, racemosely branched or compound
; leaves nearly all remotely appressed-serrulate, glabrous, acute or
acuminate, scabrous above ; the cauline ones narrowly lanceolate, elongated,
slightly clasping (not dilated) at the base ; those of the branches short, numerous,
ovate-lanceolate or oblong, somewhat clasping at the base, spreading;
heads (hardly middle-sized) simply racemose on the leafy branches, on
very short bracteate peduncles; involucre campanulate, somewhat shorter
than the disk; the scales linear-lanceolate, .acute, rather closely imbricated
in nearly 3 series, the exterior somewhat shorter.
Near Boston, D r . B . ,D. Greene! D r . P ic k e rin g ! (in herb, acacl. P h il ad.)
—The specimens we have seen want the lower cauline leaves, and do not
afford sufficient information as to the size of the plant. The cauline leaves
in the specimens are 3-5 inches long, about half an inch broad, remotely serrate
with minute teeth, of a rather firm texture; the veinlets of the lower
surface finely reticulated, but less conspicuously than in A. carneus ; the
upper surface very scabrous in one specimen, but slightly so in the other :
the leaves of the branches are pretty uniform throughout in size and shape,
6-12 lines long, lanceolate-ovate or elliptical, nearly all serrate like those of
the stem. Heads nearly the size of those of A. carneus /3. subasper, racemose
or sometimes crowded along the slender ascending branches in a similar
manner; the lower often shorter than the leaves from the axils of which
they rise. Scales of the involucre rather appressed, pale below, with a
greenish mid-nerve, more lax than in A. carneus, and with narrower and
sharper herbaceous tips. Rays rather short, broadly linear, apparently purplish;
the disk turning to reddish-purple. Achenia minutely puberulent.
* * * * * * * * * * Heads (middle-sized or large, showy) mostly corymbose or paniculate
: scales of the involucre equal or somewhat unequal, more or less imbricated, with
lax or spreading ]herbaceous or foliaceous tips; the exterior frequently entirely herbaceous
: achenia pubescent or glabrous: rays usually large and numerous, blue or pwr-
ple; cauline leaves sessile, the upper more or less clasping.—Salicifolii.
t Scales of the involucre erect or appressed, with mostly short (seldom squarrose)
herbaceous tips; the exterior often entirely herbaceous.
54. A . laxus (Willd.): stem glabrous, racemose-compound or decompound;
the branches loose and corymbose at the summit; the branchlets
elongated; leaves narrowly lanceolate, acuminate, the margin (and often
the upper surface) scabrous; the lower ones somewhat serrate; those of the
branchlets linear, obliquely spreading; scales of the involucre in the terminal
heads loose, and nearly equal, linear; of the others imbricated, reflexed
at the summit. Nees.— W illd . enum. 2. p . 886; (P u r sh , f l . 2. p . 557?)
Nees, A s t. p . 95 ; D C . prodr. 5. p . 240.
North America, Willdenow. (Low sandy fields, New Jersey to Virginia,
P u r s h ; who, however, probably had a different species in view.) Near
Boston, D r . Boott! D r . Greene! in herb. HooJc.) New York, M r . Brownne!
Sept.-Oct.—The few specimens we have seen agree very well with the
character of Willdenow, and that of Nees, which we have copied. They
belong to a good-sized plant, with very numerous and rigid ascending (racemose)
branches, which terminate in loose corymbs. The cauline leaves
(3-5 inches long and 4-5 lines broad) are rather rigid, serrulate with scattered
appressed teeth, the upper surface more or less scabrous ; the uppermost
and those of the branches short, partly clasping and sometimes slightly
dilated at the base. The heads are rather smaller than in A. prasaltus, but
very similar, except that those which terminate the leafy branchlets present
a much more foliaceous involucre ; the numerous exterior scales being entirely
herbaceous, thickish, broadly linear, obtuse or mucronate-acute, often
as long as the disk, loose, at length squarrose-spreading ; the outermost similar
to the leaves of the branchlets: in the lateral heads, when these are produced,
the scales are regularly imbricated, as in A. prasaltus. The rays appear
to be purplish-blue. Although he has placed the two species at some
distance from each other, Nees appears to suspect that his A. laxus may pass
into A. prasaltus; which is most probably the case. Indeed these two species,
as well as A. elodes and A. Novi-Belgii, seem, to be connected by a series of
intermediate forms.
55. A . p m a ltu s (Poir.): stem or branches mostly hairy in lines, racemose
paniculate or corymbose at the summit; leaves lanceolate, partly
clasping, acute, entire, or obscurely appressed-serrate, glabrous, with scabrous
margins, the upper surface somewhat shining, smooth, or slightly
scabrous towards the apex and margins ; the lower narrowed towards the
base ; scales of the involucre unequal, loosely imbricated in 3 or 4 series,
linear-lanceolate, acute, often with die tips spreading; rays rather large.__
P o ir. suppl. 1. p . 493 ; Nees, A s t. p . 71; D C . p rodr. 5. p . 236. A. sali-
cifolius, A it. Kew. (ed. 1) 3. p . 203? {Pursh, f l . 2. p . 549?); B ig e l. f l .
Bost. ed. 2. p . 309. A. virgatus, Nees, synops. p . 27.
Moist woods and rocky banks of streams, New Hampshire ! Massachusetts
! and perhaps throughout the Northern States. Aug.-Oct.—Stem 1 to
5 or 6 feet high, often rather slender and flexuous, frequently hairy or pubescent
throughout when young, at length smooth and glabrous except in lines,
often purple, branched near the summit; the branches somewhat racemose
or racemose-compound, rather rigid ; the branchlets short, and usually forming
a more or less fastigiate or thyrsoid-corymbose inflorescence Radical
or primordial leaves’Spatulate-oblong, 1-2 inches long, obtuse, nearly entire,
tapering into a somewhat ciliate margined short petiole, sheathing at the
base ; all the lower ones often hairy on the midrib when young. Cauline
leaves about 4 inches long, 5-8 lines wide, tapering gradually to an acute
point, of a firm texture, pale and very smooth beneath, with a narrow prominent
midrib, bright green above, usually a little scabrous only towards the
summit; the veins forming loose open reticulations, which are rather conspicuous
in the older leaves; the upper usually with a more or less dilated
or auriculate insertion. Heads rather large and showy. Involucre as long
as the disk; the scales numerous, pale and often somewhat naTrowed towards
the base, slightly ciliate, herbaceous above, mostly with slight membranaceous
margins. Rays violet or pale blue, pretty large in the wild