Aster amellus
| Aster amellus | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 5 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Self Pollinated | |
| Height: | 2' |
| Width: | 2' |
| Blooms: | Early Fall-Mid Fall |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Aster amellus (common name: ialian aster)
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[1]. The seed usually germinates in 2 weeks at 20°c[1]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer.
Division in spring or autumn[2].
Cultivation: Succeeds in most good garden soils[3], preferring one that is well-drained and moisture retentive[2]. Tolerates poorer soils[4]. Prefers a sunny position[2] but also succeeds in part shade[4].
Plants are hardy to about -25°c[5].
A very ornamental plant[3], there are some named varieties[4].
A polymorphic species[6], it hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[2].
Most species in this genus seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[4].
Range: Europe to E. Asia.
Habitat: Scrub and wood margins[6]. Marshy places and lake sides[7], mainly on limestone soils[2].
Edibility: Leaves and young plants - cooked[8]. Only certain varieties (not specified in the report) are used[8]. A nutritional analysis is available[9].
Medicinal: The roots are anti-inflammatory, antitussive, depurative, haemostatic and pectoral[10][11].They are used in the treatment of coughs, pulmonary affections and malaria[12]. The root juice is used internally in Nepal to treat indigestion and externally to treat boils[13].
Pollinators: Bees, flies, beetles, lepidoptera, self
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Seed Ripens: Mid Fall
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Also Known As: A. amelloides. Besser. A. trinervius. Roxb.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Rice, Graham. Growing from Seed Volume 2. Thompson and Morgan, 1988.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Thomas, Graham. Perennial Garden Plants. J. M. Dent & Sons, 1990.
- ↑ Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Perennials - The Definitve Reference. Pan Books, 1991.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Tutin, Tom et al.. Flora Europaea. Cambridge University Press, 1964.
- ↑ Stuart, George. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei Southern Materials Centre.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.
- ↑ Duke, James and Edward Ayensu. Medicinal Plants of China. Reference Publications, 1985.
- ↑ Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
- ↑ Revolutionary Health Committee of Hunan Province. A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press.
- ↑ Chopra, R. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi, 1986.
- ↑ Manandhar, Narayan. Plants and People of Nepal. Timber Press, 2002.