Sunflowers, Asters, and belong to the largest family of flowering plants, the Sunflower or composite family (Asteraceae or Compositae) containing 19,000 species worldwide. They are considered the most recent to appear on earth.
Among Asters, some books list 50 varieties growing in the northeast, and many are far too similar for positive identification by amateurs. Even with two plants in hand, it is difficult to tell whether they are the same or different species. To quote , the Asters and Goldenrods are genera that “only the most persistent field botanist will attempt to master.” A dozen or so Asters are shown in this catalog, though some of the identifications here should be suspect.
The words “asterisk” and Aster both come from Latin and Greek for “star.”
Asters are often planted as ornamentals, though they can succumb to aster yellows or aster wilt, which kills them over a period of months or years.
Asters are considered late summer and fall flowers, often blooming after most other flowers are gone. However several have an extended period of bloom beginning much earlier. Most prefer dry, partially cleared areas, while a few like to be close to the edges of wetlands.
Unlike most of the other Asters in this area that are white, this flower is pale lavender. The flowers are small (1/2-3/4" wide) and the color does not show up too well in photos. There are numerous tiny leaves on the flower stem. This identification is somewhat suspicious since this Aster is is usually restricted to coasts and shorelines, but in fact here we have this within 50' of the pond. A re-identification is be needed to determine whether bracts are narrow or spreading (which would make it a Many-flowered Aster). A very common late-September Aster with numerous small 1/2" flowers. There are several very similar interbreeding Asters difficult to distinguish. The leaves and shape of the plant seem quite variable. This Aster was not found near South Mill St., although the habitat should support it. This photo was taken along the rocky coast of Maine, on Mount Desert Island in mid-September. This Aster is generaly found in moist thickets and borders of swamps. It is one of the first Asters to bloom, while persisting well into the fall.The distinguishing characteristic of this Aster is the very broad, flat top. The very large heart-shaped basal leaves are a distinguishing feature, as well as minute glands on the flower stalks (not shown). Also the flowers are usually lavender. This aster has violet flowers, heart-shaped toothed leaves, and dark-green tips on the bracts of the flower heads. This is aptly named, as it is the most showy Aster in the northeast, having large flowers with 45-100 rays. This Aster grows in damp thickets, swamps and along the coast. This specimen was growing next to the coast on Mt. Desert, Maine, one of the few wildflowers in this catalog photographed outside the South Mill St. area.
A distinguishing feature of this Aster is the outword-curving tips on the bracts of the flower heads. The most distinguishing identifying feature of this Aster is the apparently whorled leaves near the top, although in fact they are very closely spaced and alternate. The upper leaves are larger than the lower and clasp the stem only slightly. It has 1" showy flowers, whose centers vary in color from yellow to brown as the flowers age. When the petals fall off, they flower stems end in fuzzy balls. It blooms early compared to most Asters, in mid-August, and is fairly common by the roadside. This plant resembles the Bushy Aster (A. dumosus) which this sample may be, though the latter usually has pale lavender or bluish flowers. There are many other small-flowered asters in the northeast difficult to tell apart. This specimen was originally identified as a due to its slightly clasping leaves and flowers with numerous rays. However the stem is not sticky or hairy, and has a whitish bloom characteristic of the Smooth Aster. But there are 11 closely related species in this area so this identification is only approximate. The flowers are supposed to be very similar to the , the two species differing mostly in the properties of the basal leaves. This Aster has rather wide lance-shaped untoothed leaves, with numerous flowers growing out of stalks in the leaf axils. It seems different from every Aster listed in the references. This Aster has eaves toothed above the middle, barely clasping the stem, and about 7 rays in a cluster at the top. The basal leaves are different from that of any Aster listed in the references.