232b. Leaves entire or nearly so --233. 233a. Leaves narrowed toward the base and barely clasping, linear or oblong-linear --234. 233b. Leaves ovate-oblong or lanceolate, with a broad conspicuously clasping base --235. 234a. Involucre pubescent but not glandular =Aster, Aster amethystinus.= 234b. Involucre glandular =Aster, Aster oblongifolius.= 235a. Involucre very glandular and viscid; rays very numerous, violet-purple; leaves lanceolate =Aster, Aster novae-angliae.= 235b. Involucre slightly glandular or not at all; rays 20-30, generally blue-purple; leaves ovate-oblong =Aster, Aster patens.= 236a. Leaves of a linear type --237. 236b. Leaves broader than linear, at least 1 cm. wide --238. 237a. Bracts narrow, approximately equal in length --253a. 237b. Bracts of several lengths, the outer successively shorter --256a. 238a. Leaves smooth above =Aster, Aster laevis.= 238b. Leaves rough above --239. 239a. Leaves contracted below the middle and then abruptly dilated to the clasping base =Aster, Aster prenanthoides.= 239b. Leaves gradually narrowed toward the base =Aster, Aster puniceus.= 240a. Rays conspicuous --241. 240b. Rays minute or wanting =Aster, Aster angustus.= 241a. Stems and leaves gray with a silky pubescence =Aster, Aster sericeus.= 241b. Stem and leaves green, not silky --242. 242a. Bracts glandular-viscid; rays violet =Aster, Aster oblongifolius.= 242b. Bracts bristly-ciliate --243. 242c. Bracts smooth or pubescent, not glandular or bristly-ciliate --244. 243a. Leaves crowded, rigid; rays white =Aster, Aster multiflorus.= 243b. Leaves not crowded and rigid; rays blue --234a. 244a. Bracts narrowed at the tip into thickened firm green awl-shape points --245. 244b. Bracts acute or obtuse at the flattened tip --247. 245a. Involucre 4-5 mm. long --246. 245b. Involucre 7-8 mm. high =Aster, Aster polyphyllus.= 246a. Stem smooth =Aster, Aster ericoides.= 246b. Stem hairy; leaves linear =Aster, Aster ericoides var. villosus.= 246c. Stem densely white-woolly =Aster, Aster ericoides var. platyphyllus.= 247a. Leaves at most 4.5 cm. long --248. 247b. Leaves larger, at least the principal ones --249. 248a. Stems in clusters; leaves rigid, linear, with 1 vein; flowers blue =Aster, Aster linariifolius.= 248b. Stem solitary; leaves not rigid; flowers rose-pink =Aster, Aster nemoralis.=