Aster

TRUE ASTERS

Aster L. Aster L. in the new narrow sense includes only those species clearly closely related to Aster amellus L., the type species of the genus. The genus includes about 150 species; 123 species in China (82 endemic). All species included in the genus have a chromosomal base number of x = 9 and are native to Europe and Asia. Brouillet, et al. (2001, 2009) determined that many of the Eurasian species of asters (including A. amellus) belong to the same clade and thus can be retained in the genus Aster. Further work is needed to determine relationships and to create a phylogenetic infrageneric classification. The treatment of Aster in the Flora of China (Chen, Brouillet & Semple 2011) was based in part on molecular data and follows recent treatments in eastern Asian floras. Kalimeris, Heteropappus, Miyamayomena and Rhynchospermum belong within the genus Aster, as does possibly Sheareria. All of these genera are native to central and eastern Asia, where the greatest diversity in the genus occurs.

Some European species

Aster amellus (type species of genus)
Aster×frikartii (A. amellus X A. thompsonii)
Aster pyrenaeus

Eurasian species

Aster tataricus

Aster sect. Alpigeni (Diplactis)

Aster culminis (native to North America)
Aster alpinus (Eurasia)
Aster tongolensis (Eastern Asia)
many other species

Some eastern Asian species

The Kalimeris group (see also Aster ageratoides)
The Asian 'Doellingeria' group (A. rugulosus, A. sohayakiensis, A. dimorphophylla, A. komonoensis, A. miqueliana, A. longipetiolata, A. marchandii, A. scabra)
Aster ageratoides
Aster diplostephoides
Aster hispidus
Aster iinumae
Aster mongolicus
Aster taiwanensis
Aster yakushensis
Aster yunnanensis

revised 28 October 2013 by J.C. Semple