Aster (genus)

Aster is a genus of perennial flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. Its circumscription has been narrowed, and it now encompasses around 170 species, all but one of which are restricted to Eurasia; many species formerly in Aster are now in other genera of the tribe Astereae. Aster amellus is the type species of the genus and the family Asteraceae.[1]

Aster
Aster amellus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Subfamily: Asteroideae
Tribe: Astereae
Subtribe: Asterinae
Genus: Aster
L., 1753
Type species
Aster amellus
L., 1753[1]
Synonyms[2]
  • Asteromoea Blume
  • Bellidastrum Scop.
  • Bellidiaster Dumort.
  • Borkonstia Ignatov
  • Brachyaster Ambrosi
  • Chlamydites J.R.Drumm.
  • Gymnaster Kitam.
  • Hersilea Klotzsch
  • Heterochaeta DC.
  • × Heterokalimeris Kitam.
  • Heteropappus Less.
  • Hisutsua DC.
  • Homostylium Nees
  • Kalimares Raf.
  • Kalimeris (Cass.) Cass.
  • Kitamuraea Rauschert
  • Kitamuraster Soják
  • Kitamuria G.L.Nesom
  • Krylovia Schischk.
  • Leptocoma Less.
  • Margarita Gaudin
  • Martinia Vaniot
  • Metamyriactis G.L.Nesom
  • Miyamayomena Kitam.
  • Rhinactina Less.
  • Rhinactinidia Novopokr.
  • Rhynchospermum Reinw.
  • Sinobouffordia G.L.Nesom
  • Wardaster J.Small
  • Yonglingia G.L.Nesom
  • Zollingeria Sch.Bip.

The name Aster comes from the Ancient Greek word ἀστήρ (astḗr), 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 larvae of a number of Lepidoptera species—see list of Lepidoptera that feed on Aster. Asters can grow in all hardiness zones.

Circumscription
Main article: List of Aster synonyms
Multi layer petals Aster flower

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.[3]

The New World species have now been reclassified in the genera Almutaster, Canadanthus, Doellingeria, Eucephalus, Eurybia, Ionactis, Oligoneuron, Oreostemma, Sericocarpus and Symphyotrichum, though all are treated within the same tribe, Astereae. The "China aster" is in the related genus Callistephus. Regardless of the taxonomic change, most are still widely referred to as "asters", or "Michaelmas daisies", because of their typical blooming period.

Species
Aster alpinus is the only species of Aster (sensu stricto) that is native to North America; it is found in mountains across the Northern Hemisphere.

Plants of the World Online accepts 10 species, as of June 2022.[2] 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 species—see list of Lepidoptera that feed on Aster. Asters can grow in all hardiness zones.

Some species are:

Hybrids and cultivars

Those marked agm have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

  • Aster × frikartii (A. amellus × A. thomsonii) Frikart's aster[6]
    • Aster × frikartii 'Mönch' agm[7]
    • A. × frikartii 'Wunder von Stäfa' agm[8]
  • 'Kylie' (A. novae-angliae 'Andenken an Alma Pötschke' × A. ericoides 'White Heather')[9]
  • 'Ochtendgloren' agm[10] (A. pringlei hybrid)
  • 'Photograph' agm[11]

In history

The Hungarian revolution of 31 October 1918, became known as the "Aster Revolution" due to protesters in Budapest wearing this flower.[12]

In culture

One of the few flowers left around Michaelmas in the British Isles is the Michaelmas daisy (another name for asters), hence the rhyme: "The Michaelmas daisies, among dead weeds, Bloom for St Michael's valorous deeds..."[13]

References
  1. Elizabeth Pennissi (2001). "Linnaeus's last stand?". Science. 291 (5512): 2304–2307. doi:10.1126/science.291.5512.2304. PMID 11269295. S2CID 83724152.
  2. "Aster L." Plants of the World Online. Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2021. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
  3. Luc Brouillet, Theodore M. Barkley & John L. Strother. "Asteraceae Martinov tribe Astereae Cassini, J. Phys. Chim. Hist. Nat. Arts. 88: 195. 1819". Flora of North America. p. 3. in Flora of North America.
  4. "Aster hispidus". Wikispecies.
  5. "Convergent Origin of the narrowly lanceolate leaf in the Genus Aster—with Special Reference to An Unexpected Discovery of A New Aster Species from East China". Novataxa. 2019-01-27. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
  6. Floridata: Aster × frikartii
  7. "RHS Plant Selector - Aster × frikartii 'Mönch'". Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  8. "RHS Plant Selector - A. × frikartii 'Wunder von Stäfa'". Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  9. Klein, Carol (2004-10-22). "Blazin' squad". Telegraph. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  10. "RHS Plant Selector - Aster 'Ochtendgloren'". Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  11. "RHS Plant Selector - Aster 'Photograph'". Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  12. Hajdu, Tibor (1990). "Revolution, Counterrevolution, Consolidation". In Peter F. Sugar (ed.). A History of Hungary ([New printing]. ed.). Bloomington: Indiana University Press. p. 297. ISBN 0253355788.
  13. Rob Taylor (7 October 2010). "Michaelmas Traditions". Black Country Bugle. Archived from the original on 30 September 2015. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
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