Purple aster
Aster trinervius

Family: Asteraceae

What it is like

A herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows 25-205 cm tall. It has thick rhizomes. The stems are erect and simple. The leaves in the middle of the stem are usually the largest. The leaves are pale green underneath. The leaves are narrowly oval and 1-15 cm long by 1-6 cm wide.

There are about 250 Aster species. Chemical composition (Shanghai area sample) (leafy shoots): Protein = 3.9%. Fat = 0.19%. Carbohydrate = 5.9%. Ash = 1.81%.

Where it is found

It is a temperate to tropical plant. It grows on the edges of forests and wet places in valleys between 100-3,400 m above sea level. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Japan, Korea, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, Russia, SE Asia, Taiwan, Thailand, Tibet, Vietnam

How it is used for food

Leaves eaten with oil and salt.

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Aster asperrimus Wallich; Aster scabridus C.B. Clarke; Galatella asperrima Nees; Diplopappus asperrimus (Nees)de Candolle;