New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-09-03

speciss the earliest TO bloom IL tho cofymDed asser
which can be identified by Its slender. somewna.
zigxag stems, Its thin heart-shsped leaves ana
it's loosely-clustered Hower-heads. II grows pien-
tifully in the open woods, especially somewna'
northward. In swamps and moist thickets we
find the umbeled aster, with its long, taPe''ns
leaves, and fiat clusters which IL lifts at times 70
a HEIGHT of seven feet. A beautiful variety "hicu
is abundant along the coast is the many howeIe''
aster This is bushy, spreading plant somewhat
suggestive Of an evergreen, with little, harro"'
rigid leaves and small crowded fower-heads
The tall, stout stems and large violet heads OF
the New-England aster mark one OF inc mos'
striking of the purple species. IL nooos WIN
color tho low meadows and moist holows along
the roadside while the wood-borders are lighteheu
by the pale blue rays of the heart-leaved variety
There are many other species without English
titles which can hardly be described without the
aid OF technical terms Even the trained bota-
mist finds himself daunted at times in his ehorts
to identify the various species, while the beginner
is sure 10 he sOrey tried II he sets hlfnseil '''
task Yet il he persevere he will be rewarded as
every roadside will supply an absorbing proo-
lem for there is decided fascination IN detec'-
ine the Individual traits Of plants that TO the
unframed eve have nothing to distinguish them
/ from one dO0tner. ne siBuihcdnOo VI '''S
tfc title of the genus Aster is easily apprecia'eu
for the effect of its flowers is peculiarly star
like.
The red-purple clusters OF the iron-weed are
often mistaken for asters by those who are not
sufficiently obseryant to notice that it's flower
heads are composed entirely of tubular blossoms.
being without the ray-fowers which are essential
ii an aster. In the iron-weed the involucre Oh
little haf-like scales which always surrounds the
fiower-head of Composite, and which is commonly
considered a calyx by the unbotanical, is USUALLY
Of a purpIish tint, each little scale being tipped
with tiny cusp or point. Its alternate iea'e'
are long and narrow, and its tough stem ~ re-
sponsble for its common name It's scien''"o
title. Vernonia, was bestowed in honor OF an
ENGLISH botanist who travelled in this country
many years ago.
| In the rich woods the nattopped flower clusters
and broad, pointed leaves Of the white snaiieroo'
near relative Of the boneset, are notlceaoi"
This is q brighter looking, more ornamental pial'
than its celebrated kinsman. Along the streams
and in the thickets the sunilowers lit their yeo"
heads far above our own, while the wet dlches are
eilded with the bright rays OF the pur-hari-
cold. Somewhat southwark the large heads Oh
the so-caled golden aster (which is not an as.ef
at alb star the dry fields and roadsldes. LII noi'''
shaded spots we find the ephemeral day-nower' or
Commelina, with it's Two sky-blue petals quaintT
COMMUNICATING the two Commelyns dlstin-
0uisbed Dutch botanists, while the odd petal
which can boast little in the way OF either size OF
color, mmortalizes the comparative lhSishii'anU'
~ loss renowned brother At least 80 runs the
tradition. From barren sandy banks in much 'he
same ATTITUDES spring the branching STEMS oppo-
s,e aromatic leaves, and clustered, delicate white
o. lavender-coored flowers of the dittany' one OF
tho Mints. On the hillside the little corollas OF
the bue-curls are falling so as 70 reSeai VIM
the calyx the four tiny nutlets' whicn afs -, q
nro,,nent characteristic of the same family, whie
the plants clammy, balsam-scented leaves 0"e'
another means of Identification. A..
Near the blue-curls we are likely to ind the
closely spiked, pea-like blossoms and thtee,
divided leaves of the bush-clover' as wen a. '"'
Ike foliage of another of the tick-treiohs' AS
these two groups of plants have so many points
~ common that it is somewhat difficult ordinarily