36. A. Tradescánti, L. Stem much branched (2–4° high); the numerous heads (2–3´´ high) somewhat panicled or racemed; leaves lanceolate to linear, tapering to a long slender point (2–6´ long), the lower somewhat serrate in the middle; involucral scales linear, acutish, partly green down the back. (A. tenuifolius, previous ed.)—Low grounds, Mass. to Minn., and south to Va. and Ill. Rays short and narrow, white or purplish. Some forms approach n. 32–34, others differ from A. paniculatus only in the smaller heads and shorter ray.
37. A. paniculàtus, Lam. Stem (2–8° high) much branched; the branches and scattered heads (about 4´´ high) loosely paniculate; leaves long-oblong to narrowly lanceolate, pointed, the lower serrate; scales narrowly linear, with attenuate green tips or the outermost wholly green. (A. simplex, previous ed.)—Shady moist banks; common. Rays white or purplish, 3–4´´ long. Approaches in its different forms the preceding and the two following. A slender form with linear leaves, in northern bogs, resembles n. 40.
38. A. salicifòlius, Ait. Like the last; the leaves commonly shorter, firmer, often scabrous, less serrate or entire; involucre more imbricated, the firmer linear scales with shorter acute or obtusish green tips; heads as large, disposed to be thyrsoid or racemose-clustered; rays rarely white. (A. carneus, previous ed.)—Low grounds, N. Eng. to Minn., and southward; most abundant westward.—Var. subásper, Gray, a rigid scabrous form, with contracted leafy inflorescence, the broad heads usually leafy-bracteate and the broader scales often obtuse. Ill. to Tex.
[=][=] Heads small or middle-sized, the looser linear scales somewhat equal and erect, and the acute green tips not dilated, the outer often wholly herbaceous.
39. A. júnceus, Ait. Slender, 1–3° high, simple with few heads or loosely branching; leaves linear or narrow, 3–5´ long, entire or the lower sparsely denticulate; heads small (3´´ high); scales small, narrow, in 2 or 3 rows, the outer more or less shorter; rays light purple, 4–5´´ long. (A. æstivus, previous ed., mainly.)—Wet meadows and cold bogs, N. Scotia and N. Y. to Mich. and Minn.
40. A. longifòlius, Lam. (not of previous ed.) Stem 1–3° high, more or less branched and corymbosely panicled; leaves long-lanceolate to linear-lanceolate (3–7´ long), narrowed to both ends, entire or sparsely serrulate; heads 4–5´´ high, the scales nearly equal and usually little imbricated, the outer looser; rays 3–4´´ long, violet or purplish, rarely whitish.—Low grounds, Lab. and northern N. Eng. to Minn.—Var. villicaùlis, Gray, a low simple form, with few or solitary heads, and the stem and midrib of the leaves densely white-villous beneath. N. Maine, at Fort Kent (Miss Furbish).
[=][=][=] Heads middle-sized; scales in few to several rows, more or less unequal, linear to spatulate, more herbaceous and firmer, the tips often slightly spreading or squarrose.
41. A. Nòvi-Bélgii, L. Rarely tall; leaves oblong to linear-lanceolate, entire or sparsely serrate, the upper partly clasping and often somewhat auriculate; heads 4–5´´ long; rays bright blue-violet. (A. longifolius, previous ed.)—N. Brunswick to Ill. and Ga. The commonest late-flowered Aster of the Atlantic border, and very variable. The typical form has thin narrowly to oblong-lanceolate leaves, sometimes scabrous above, and linear scales with narrow acute spreading or recurved tips.—Var. lævigàtus, Gray, is usually glabrous throughout, the thin leaves mostly oblong-lanceolate, the upper half-clasping by an abrupt base; scales nearly equal, loosely erect, with short acutish tips. N. Eng. and eastward.—Var. litòreus, Gray, rigid, usually low, very leafy; leaves thickish, usually very smooth, oblong to lanceolate, the upper sometimes auriculate; scales in several loose rows, all but the innermost with broadish obtuse tips, the outer usually spatulate. Salt-marshes and shores, Can. to Ga.—Var. elòdes, Gray, slender, often low and simple; leaves thickish, long, narrowly linear, entire, the uppermost small and bract-like; scales narrow, with short and mostly spreading acutish tips. Swamps, N. J. to Va.
[++][++] Cauline leaves conspicuously contracted into a winged-petiole-like base or auriculate-clasping; involucre lax.
42. A. pátulus, Lam. Glabrous or subpubescent, 1–4° high; leaves ovate- or oblong-lanceolate, sharply serrate in the middle, narrowed at both ends, the lower to a winged petiole, none auriculate or only obscurely so; heads loosely panicled, about 4´´ high; scales unequal, erect or nearly so; rays light purple or white.—N. Brunswick and eastern N. England.