Aster (genus)

Aster
Aster amellus
Scientific 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]
List 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.

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]

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.