1—2 feet high, branching considerably, more leafy below ; flowers
smallish, white, with the scales of the calyx yellowish, and finely
green on their tips, giving a variegated appearance to the flower ;
in clearings and by fences ; July.
A. cordifolius. L. Heart-shape-leafed Star Flower. Stem
often 2 feet or more high, erect, branching, rather smooth, with
deeply heart-shaped leaves, acutely toothed, and on rather longwinged
leaf-stalks, especially on the lower part of the plant, and
bearing numerous whitish-purple flowers ; open woods, in light,
dry soils ; September, A fine species.-
A. eorymbosus. Ait. Closely allied to the preceding, and
equally handsome, with heart-form leaves below, and ovate above,
and many whitish-blue flowers in corymbs ; woods ; July.
Jl. macrophyllus, Ait., and Jl. paniculatus, Ait. Nearly related
to the two preceding, but clearly different; grow in similar
situations, and flower in September and October.
A. Tradeseanti. W. Stem 4 - 6 feet high, erect, smooth,
with long, narrow leaves, tapering to the base and sessile, branching
at the summit, and full of purplish-white flowers. Grows
beside fences in wet situations, and is an elegant species with
middle-sized flowers ; September.
A. recurvatus. W. Seems to be only a variety of this, forming
a tall, bending, or arched stem, with wider leaves ; in similar
situations.
A. JVovce-Anglice. L . New England Aster. The most
beautiful of our species ; erect, 2 - 5 feet high, branching, leafy ;
leaves lanceolate, sessile, and slightly lobed or auriculate at the
base ; flowers numerous, terminal, nearly level-top-eorymbed,
deep purple, larger than the common size ; fields, in moist or dry
soils, and beside fences ; August to October ; the plant has a
fine aromatic odor.
Used by Dr. O. Partridge of Stockbridge, with gratifying success,
in the cure of the salt-rheum. It was prescribed originally
by an Indian, and called by the people, bee-flower, because it is
in September so sought for by the honey-bee. It is easily cultivated
in gardens, and has great beauty.
A. phlogifalius, L. A fine species, 2 feet high, with somewhat
glaucous leaves, and red or flame-colored petals, whence its
name ; woods ; August to November.
A. diversifolius. Mx. Resembles the preceding species, but
is distinct from it ; in similar situations.
A. amplexicaulis. Mx. Differs a little from the two preceding.
A. subulatus. Mx. A smooth plant; stem 2 — 3 feet high,
with spreading branches, and small purplish flowers ; leaves linear-
subulate, acute ; salt marshes ; August to November ; Marshfield
and Boston.
A. spectabilis. Ait. Named for its beauty, though it is inferior
to several ; stem 2 feet high, bearing large blue flowers in a corymb
; leaves oblong-lanceolate, clasping, and roughish ; swamps ;
August and September. In the vicinity of New Bedford.
A. multiflorus. W. Stem 2 - 3 feet high, diffusely branched,
pubescent, with crowded flowers in terminal racemes ; branches
horizontal; leaves linear, entire, smoothish ; fields ; August.
A. miser. L. Nearly allied to the last, but is a poorer looking
plant, as if neglected ; small flowers. The variety, A. diver-
gens, is a very common, but ill-looking plant.
Several other species, A. amygdalinus, Mx., cornifolius, Muhl.,
dumosus, L ., ericoides, W ., Icevis, Willd., mutabilis, W., JYovi-
Belgii, L ., rigidus, W., salicifolius, W., solidagineus, Mx., um-
bellalus, Ait., and doubtless others, are of equal consequence with
many already mentioned.
A. Chinensis. L. The China Aster of gardens. Remarka