Aster

[Gr., a star.] ( Bot.) The Star-Wort, a genus of plants, ord. Aster a cere, sub-ord. Tubuliflora, tribe Aste roida. A great number of species are described from all parts of the world, though about three-fifths of the number are from North America. Several are handsome, showy plants, such as the A. Chinensis, or China Aster, which was imported into France from China in the year 1728. Most of the species rank as ornamental plants: and yet comparatively few are cultivated in flower-gardens. Most of the best known kinds have a rank and coarse appearance in the stem and leaves, and a somewhat staring appearance in the flowers; and yet, except mere brilliance of tint, several might advantageously compare with some of the pet varieties of the fashionable cineraria. The species most commonly cultivated are those designated amellus , alpina , hysopifolius , puno tatus, acris, can us , rigid us , linarfolius , tenuifolius , du mos is, ericoides, and conifolius . About 160 species, nearly all exotic. Fig . 220.-ASTER DUMOSIS.