Generic delimitation in Astereae has long been a source of disagreement among botanists. The ways in which they treat the large and diverse genus Aster usually reflect their philosophy on generic concepts, and although there are many variations, in general there have historically been two schools of thought. The first approach maintains a very inclusive generic concept of a large genus Aster, with subdivision of the genus into several subgenera. The second approach was to segregate many distinctive small genera from Aster, thus adopting a narrow generic concept As a result of new in-depth studies of phenotype features and, more recently, DNA sequences, combined with reasonably strict adherence to the tenets of phylogenetic systematics, the genus Aster is now much more narrowly and more naturally defined than before. Consequently many of the species formerly accepted in a looser definition of that genus have now been transferred to several more narrowly defined genera.

Common Name:

General Information

Aster scaber is a herbaceous, perennial plant producing a cluster of erect, unbranched stems 70 - 150cm tall from a short, thickened rhizome[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and a medicine. It is sometimes cultivated as a food plant and the leaves are often sold in local food markets in Korea[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

E. Asia - Russian Far East, China, Japan, Korea

Habitat

Woods and thickets in hills and low mountains all over Japan[]. Clearings in forest in warm temperate areas[]. Very common on open slopes in valleys, grasslands and thickets; at elevations up to 2,000 metres in China[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	1.20 m
Pollinators	Bees, Flies, Beetles, Lepidoptera, Self
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in most good garden soils[], preferring one that is well-drained and moisture retentive[]. Prefers a sunny position[].
Most species in this genus seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[].
Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[].

Edible Uses

Young plant[, , ]. No more details are given, but the report is likely to be referring to the young leaves in spring before the production of flowering stems[].

Medicinal

The plant is used for treating bites from venomous snakes[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - surface sow in spring in a cold frame. Do not allow the compost to become dry. Pre-chilling the seed for two weeks can improve germination rates[]. Germination usually takes place within 2 weeks at 20°c[]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer.
Division in spring or autumn[]. Very easy, larger divisions can be planted straight into their permanent positions whist smaller clumps are best potted up and kept in a cold frame until they are growing away well.