Bruedersthal

Asters are one of the signature plants of Autumn along the GAP. Although not as conspicuous and flamboyantly showy as the Goldenrods attentive GAPers will notice them everywhere. A few may bloom in late August but they peak in mid-September, around the time of the Autumn Equinox and some continue to bloom well into October, persisting even after the first hard frosts. The name comes from Greek astēr, “star,” referring to the radiating flower head. It must first be noted that “Asters” is an umbrella term that includes a number of different genuses that were once placed in the single genus Aster, which included such European species as Aster amellus. Starting in the 1990s, studies of morphology, chromosome numbers, and DNA sequences demonstrated that the old broad term Aster bundled together branches of the evolutionary tree that did not descend from one exclusive common ancestor. Once the evidence was evaluated, most North American Asters proved to be more closely related to North American members of the Astereae family—such as Goldenrods (Solidago) and Fleabanes (Erigeron)—than to the Eurasian species that remain in the narrower, true genus Aster.

An estimated twenty-four plants going by the name Aster belonging to at least four different genuses (Symphyotrichum, Eurybia, Oclemena, and Doellingeria) grow in southwestern Pennsylvania. Ten are commonly seen along the GAP (note that most Asters go by numerous names; only the most common are given here):

Azure or Skyblue Aster (Symphyotrichum oolentangiense)

Big Leaf Aster or Bigleaf Wood Aster (Eurybia macrophylla).

Blue Wood Aster or Heart-leaved Aster (Symphyotrichum cordifolium)

Shining or Glossy-leaf Aster (Symphyotrichum firmum)

Mountain Aster or Whorled Wood Aster (Oclemena acuminata)

New England Aster, or Michaelmas Daisy (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)

Purple-stemmed Aster or Swamp Aster (Symphyotrichum puniceum)

Flat-topped Aster or Appalachian Aster (Doellingeria infirma)

Calico Aster (Symphyotrichum lateriflorum)

Frost Leaf or Awl Aster (Symphyotrichum pilosum)

Azure or Skyblue Aster (Symphyotrichum oolentangiense) Pale sky-blue to lavender flower rays surrounding a yellow disk that may become reddish-brown with age. Flowers about ¾ in. (½–1¼) in diameter; 10–25 rays per head.

Big Leaf Aster or Bigleaf Wood Aster (Eurybia macrophylla). Large sharply toothed heart-shaped leaves; pale violet flowers in broad, rather flat clusters; yellow disks turn reddish. Flowers about 1 in. (½–1¼, up to 1½) in diameter; 8 to 20 rays per head.

Blue Wood or Heart-leaved Aster (Symphyotrichum cordifolium). Broad, toothed, heart-shaped leaves and dense, domed clusters of pale blue to lavender flowers. Flowers about about ⅝ in. (½–¾) inn diameter; 7-20 rays per head.

Mountain Aster or Whorled Wood Aster, (Oclemena acuminata). Somewhat zigzag stems, coarsely toothed, pointed leaves that appear whorled, and loose clusters of white flower heads with yellow to reddish centers. Flowers about 1¼ in. (1–1½, up to 2) in diameter; 9-18 rays per head.

New England Aster, or Michaelmas Daisy (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae). The name “Michaelmas Daisy” refers to the plant’s flowering around Michaelmas, the feast of St. Michael on September 29. “Daisy” is a misnomer.

Large showy purple to violet flowers, many rays, very leafy and hairy stems, and clasping leaves. Flowers about 1¼ in. (1–1½) in diameter; 40-100 rays per head.

Purple-stemmed Aster or Swamp Aster (Symphyotrichum puniceum). Stout, often conspicuously purple stems, purple rays. Look particularly at wet pockets rather than ordinary dry trail edge.Clusters of lavender to violet-blue flower heads with yellow centers that turn reddish-purple as they age. Flowers about about 1¼ in. (1–1½, up to 2) in diameter; 20-60 rays per head.

Flat-topped Aster or Appalachian Aster (Doellingeria infirma) Somewhat zigzag stems, alternate, leaves with toothless margins, and loose, flat-topped clusters of white flower heads with pale yellow centers. One of the first Aster to appear, sometimes as early as mid-August; flowering usually over by mid-September. Flowers about 1 in. (to 1¼)) in diameter; 5-9 rays per head.

Calico Aster (Symphyotrichum lateriflorum). Small white, occasionally pinkish flowers displayed predominantly along one side of long spreading branches; disks show yellow and purple-red simultaneously—the “calico” effect. Flowers average about ⅜ in. (⅓–½ in.) in diameter; 8–15 rays per head.

Frost Leaf or Awl Aster (Symphyotrichum pilosum). Many small white heads, yellow disks. Flowers average about about ⅝ in. (½–¾) in diameter; 15-35 rays per head.

Shining or Glossy-leaf Aster (Symphyotrichum firmum) Leafy clusters of pale lavender to nearly white flower heads with yellow centers that age to reddish-purple. Flowers average about 1 in. (⅝–1½) in diameter; 20-40 rays per head.

Several Asters have recorded uses in Native American medicine, although details are scant. The Iroquois used of the root of Bigleaf Aster as a “blood medicine”—it is not quite clear how—and the Ojibwe bathed their heads in a infusion to alleviate headaches, although it is not known what part of the plant was used. Native Americans also used infusions of Blue wood or Heart-leaved Aster (which part is not clear) as nerve tonic or sedative to reduce stress or tension. The Cherokee used root poultices of New England Aster for pain, root infusions for diarrhea, and flower and leaf infusions for fever. The Woodland Cree chewed the root of Purple-stemmed or Swamp Aster to treat toothaches and the Meskwaki used the leaves and flowers of Calico Aster to incense the air in sweat baths. Apart from medicinal uses, the Chippewa used the root of Blue Wood or Heart-leaved Aster and New England Aster to make incense which when burned was believed to attract deer within bowshot range. The ethnobotanical record is mainly silent on other Asters.

Only the New England Aster appears to be used In contemporary herbalism. Herbalists describe it as relaxing and decongesting, using it for chest tightness, congestion, coughs, colds, and sometimes seasonal-allergy or asthma symptoms. The fresh flowering tops are commonly made into a tincture; a hot tea is also traditionally used during colds. Some herbalists additionally use it as a carminative for gas and bloating. These uses come primarily from herbalist practice and tradition, not strong clinical research.

Asters are now best appreciated for their role in bringing down the curtain on the flora season along the GAP. They may be the last plants seen in bloom, still flowering after even Goldenrods have given up the ghost, and thus should warm the cockles of even the most jaded of GAPer hearts.