Asters
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''Aster'' is a
genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...
of
perennial In horticulture, the term perennial ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the year") is used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. It has thus been defined as a plant that lives more than 2 years. The term is also ...
flowering plants in the family
Asteraceae Asteraceae () is a large family (biology), family of flowering plants that consists of over 32,000 known species in over 1,900 genera within the Order (biology), order Asterales. The number of species in Asteraceae is rivaled only by the Orchi ...
. Its
circumscription Circumscription may refer to: * Circumscribed circle * Circumscription (logic) *Circumscription (taxonomy) * Circumscription theory, a theory about the origins of the political state in the history of human evolution proposed by the American anthr ...
has been narrowed, and it now encompasses around 170 species, all but one of which are restricted to
Eurasia Eurasia ( , ) is a continental area on Earth, comprising all of Europe and Asia. According to some geographers, Physical geography, physiographically, Eurasia is a single supercontinent. The concept of Europe and Asia as distinct continents d ...
; many species formerly in ''Aster'' are now in other genera of the tribe
Astereae Astereae is a tribe of plants in the family Asteraceae that includes annuals, biennials, perennials, subshrubs, shrubs, and trees. They are found primarily in temperate regions of the world. Plants within the tribe are present nearly worldwide di ...
. ''
Aster amellus ''Aster amellus'', the European Michaelmas daisy, is a perennial herbaceous plant and the type species of the genus ''Aster (genus), Aster'' and the family Asteraceae. Etymology The specific name ''amellus'' is first used in the Georgics (Book ...
'' is the
type species In International_Code_of_Zoological_Nomenclature, zoological nomenclature, a type species (''species typica'') is the species name with which the name of a genus or subgenus is considered to be permanently taxonomically associated, i.e., the spe ...
of the genus and the family Asteraceae. The name ''Aster'' comes from the
Ancient Greek Ancient Greek (, ; ) includes the forms of the Greek language used in ancient Greece and the classical antiquity, ancient world from around 1500 BC to 300 BC. It is often roughly divided into the following periods: Mycenaean Greek (), Greek ...
word (), meaning 'star', referring to the shape of the flower head. Many species and a variety of hybrids and varieties are popular as garden plants because of their attractive and colourful flowers. 'Aster' species are used as food plants by the
larva A larva (; : larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into their next life stage. Animals with indirect development such as insects, some arachnids, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase ...
e of a number of
Lepidoptera Lepidoptera ( ) or lepidopterans is an order (biology), order of winged insects which includes butterflies and moths. About 180,000 species of the Lepidoptera have been described, representing 10% of the total described species of living organ ...
species—see list of Lepidoptera that feed on ''Aster''. Asters can grow in all hardiness zones.


Circumscription

The genus ''Aster'' once contained nearly 600 species in Eurasia and North America, but after morphologic and molecular research on the genus during the 1990s, it was decided that the North American species are better treated in a series of other related genera. After this split there are roughly 180 species within the genus, all but one being confined to Eurasia. in
Flora of North America The ''Flora of North America North of Mexico'' (usually referred to as ''FNA'') is a multivolume work describing the native plants and naturalized plants of North America, including the United States, Canada, St. Pierre and Miquelon, and Greenla ...
.
The New World species have now been reclassified in the genera '' Almutaster'', '' Canadanthus'', ''
Doellingeria ''Doellingeria'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. It contains species formerly included in ''Aster (genus), Aster'' but now considered to be a distinct genus. They are known commonly as tall flat-topped asters
'', '' Eucephalus'', '' Eurybia'', '' Ionactis'', '' Oligoneuron'', ''
Oreostemma ''Oreostemma'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. Species are found in western North America, with two endemic to California. ; Species * '' Oreostemma alpigenum'' (Tundra aster) — California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, ...
'', '' Sericocarpus'' and '' Symphyotrichum'', though all are treated within the same tribe,
Astereae Astereae is a tribe of plants in the family Asteraceae that includes annuals, biennials, perennials, subshrubs, shrubs, and trees. They are found primarily in temperate regions of the world. Plants within the tribe are present nearly worldwide di ...
. The "China aster" is in the related genus ''
Callistephus ''Callistephus'' is a monotypic genus of flowering plants in the aster family, Asteraceae, containing the single species ''Callistephus chinensis''. Its common names include China aster and annual aster.Gilman, E. F. and T. Howe''Callistephus ch ...
''. Regardless of the taxonomic change, most are still widely referred to as "asters", or "
Michaelmas Michaelmas ( ; also known as the Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, the Feast of the Archangels, or the Feast of Saint Michael and All Angels) is a Christian festival observed in many Western Christian liturgical calendars on 29 Se ...
daisies", because of their typical blooming period.


Species

Plants of the World Online accepts 186 species as of August 2024. The species formerly known as ''Aster tripolium'' (sea aster) is now '' Tripolium pannonicum''. The species formerly known as ''Aster linosyris'' (goldilocks) is now '' Galatella linosyris''. Many species and a variety of hybrids and varieties are popular as garden plants because of their beautiful, attractive and colourful flowers. ''Aster'' species are used as food plants by the larvae of a number of
Lepidoptera Lepidoptera ( ) or lepidopterans is an order (biology), order of winged insects which includes butterflies and moths. About 180,000 species of the Lepidoptera have been described, representing 10% of the total described species of living organ ...
species—see list of Lepidoptera that feed on ''Aster''. Asters can grow in all hardiness zones. Selected species: *'' Aster ageratoides'' – rough-surface aster *'' Aster alpinus'' – alpine aster *'' Aster altaicus'' *''
Aster amellus ''Aster amellus'', the European Michaelmas daisy, is a perennial herbaceous plant and the type species of the genus ''Aster (genus), Aster'' and the family Asteraceae. Etymology The specific name ''amellus'' is first used in the Georgics (Book ...
'' – European Michaelmas daisy, Italian aster *'' Aster arenarius'' – beach-sand aster *'' Aster bellidiastrum'' *'' Aster formosanus'' *'' Aster glehnii'' –
Ulleungdo Ulleungdo (), also spelled Ulreungdo, is a South Korean island east of the Korean Peninsula in the Sea of Japan. It was formerly known as Dagelet Island or Argonaut Island in Europe. Volcanic in origin, the rocky steep-sided island is the top o ...
aster *'' Aster hayatae'' – Korean montane aster *'' Aster hispidus'' *'' Aster iinumae'' – perennial false aster *'' Aster incisus'' – incised-leaf aster *'' Aster lautureanus'' – connected aster, mountain aster *'' Aster maackii'' – Maack's aster *'' Aster neoelegans'' *'' Aster quitensis'' ( unplaced) *'' Aster spathulifolius'' – seashore spatulate aster *'' Aster tataricus'' – Tatarian aster, Tatarinow's aster *'' Aster tonglingensis'' *'' Aster tongolensis'' *'' Aster yomena''


Phytochemical Profile

# Flavonoids: These are commonly found in Asters and are known for their antioxidant properties. They may also impart color to the petals. # Terpenoids: These could be responsible for the fragrance of some Aster flowers and are often studied for their potential medicinal properties. # Saponins: These phytochemicals create frothy solutions when agitated in water and have potential antimicrobial properties. # Alkaloids: Though less common in Asters, if present, they could provide a range of bioactivities, including potential toxicity. # Phenolic Compounds: These include tannins and other polyphenolic substances, which may contribute to the plant’s defense mechanisms.


Hybrids and cultivars

Those marked have gained the
Royal Horticultural Society The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), founded in 1804 as the Horticultural Society of London, is the UK's leading gardening charity. The RHS promotes horticulture through its five gardens at Wisley (Surrey), Hyde Hall (Essex), Harlow Carr ...
's
Award of Garden Merit The Award of Garden Merit (AGM) is a long-established award for plants by the British Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). It is based on assessment of the plants' performance under UK growing conditions. It includes the full range of cultivated p ...
. *'' Aster × frikartii'' (''A. amellus'' × ''A. thomsonii'') Frikart's aster **''Aster'' × ''frikartii'' 'Mönch' **''A.'' × ''frikartii'' 'Wunder von Stäfa' *'Kylie' (''A. novae-angliae'' 'Andenken an Alma Pötschke' × ''A. ericoides'' 'White Heather') *'Ochtendgloren' (''A. pringlei'' hybrid) *'Photograph'


In history

The Hungarian revolution of 31 October 1918, became known as the "
Aster Revolution The Aster Revolution or Chrysanthemum Revolution () was a revolution in Hungary led by Count Mihály Károlyi in the aftermath of World War I. It resulted in the foundation of the short-lived First Hungarian People's Republic. The revolution ...
" due to protesters in
Budapest Budapest is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns of Hungary, most populous city of Hungary. It is the List of cities in the European Union by population within city limits, tenth-largest city in the European Union by popul ...
wearing this flower.


In culture

One of the few flowers left around
Michaelmas Michaelmas ( ; also known as the Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, the Feast of the Archangels, or the Feast of Saint Michael and All Angels) is a Christian festival observed in many Western Christian liturgical calendars on 29 Se ...
in the
British Isles The British Isles are an archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean off the north-western coast of continental Europe, consisting of the islands of Great Britain, Ireland, the Isle of Man, the Inner Hebrides, Inner and Outer Hebr ...
is the Michaelmas daisy (another name for asters), hence the rhyme: "The Michaelmas daisies, among dead weeds, Bloom for St Michael's valorous deeds..." In the UK, national collections of asters are held at Old Court Nurseries and Picton Garden in
Colwall Colwall is a Civil parishes in England, civil parish in Herefordshire, England, situated on the border with Worcestershire, nestling on the western side of the Malvern Hills at the heart of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, AONB. Areas of ...
, near
Malvern, Worcestershire Malvern (, locally also: ) is a spa town and Civil parishes in England, civil parish in Worcestershire, England. It lies at the foot of the Malvern Hills, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The centre of Malvern, Great Malvern, is ...
. and at
Upton House, Warwickshire Upton House is a country house in the civil parishes in England, civil parish of Ratley and Upton, in the English county of Warwickshire, about northwest of Banbury, Oxfordshire. It is in the care of the National Trust. The house is Listed buil ...
.


References

{{Authority control Asteraceae genera Garden plants Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus