Tatarinow's aster

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Tartarian aster

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Aster tataricus var. faurei
• Aster tataricus var. nakaii
• Aster rhomboideus
• Aster tataricus var. vernalis
• Aster faurei
• Aster tataricus var. robustus
• Aster bracteatus
• Aster trinervius var. longifolius
• Aster intybaceus
• Aster tataricus var. minor
• Aster conspicuus
• Tripolion tataricum
• Aster nakaii
• Aster tataricus var. hortensis
• Aster fauriei

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. Following its placement in the subclass Magnoliidae and order Asterales, it is a member of the Asteraceae family. Finally, it is categorized under the genus Aster.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution spanning several key regions across Eurasia. In Middle Europe, its presence is specifically noted within Germany. Moving eastward, it is widely distributed across various parts of Siberia, including Buryatiya, Chita, and Irkutsk. Additionally, the species can be found in the Russian Far East, specifically in the Amur region. These diverse locations highlight the plant's ability to thrive in varied continental climates.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Aster tataricus is defined by its preference for diverse, moisture-rich environments, as it is commonly found inhabiting forest edges, meadows, rivers, and shrubberies. This species exhibits a significant vertical distribution across varying terrains, occupying an elevational range that begins at a minimum of 400 m AMSL. It thrives across a broad altitudinal gradient, reaching a maximum elevation of 2000 m AMSL, with a mean elevational range centered around 1200 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

2000 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1200 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

400 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest edges, meadows, rivers, shrubberies

Life history

The life history of Aster tataricus is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. It functions as a hemicryptophyte, a life form in which the perennating buds are located at the soil surface, protected by the remains of previous years' leaf litter or ground cover. This classification as a hemicryptophyte ensures its survival and ability to regenerate from the base during dormant periods.

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Aster tataricus is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and specifically a forb. It functions as a self-supporting plant, lacking any climbing tendencies such as liana or vine structures, and maintains an independent life cycle without acting as a parasite or an epiphyte, as it is strictly terrestrial in its habitat. The plant exhibits a vertical stature with a height ranging from a minimum of 1 m to a maximum of 1.5 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.5 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Aster tatricus is fundamentally defined by its metabolic processes, most notably its photosynthetic pathway, which follows the C3 mechanism. In this pathway, the plant utilizes the enzyme Rubisco to fix atmospheric carbon dioxide directly into a three-carbon compound, such as 3-phosphoglycerate, during the initial stages of the Calvin cycle. This C3 process is characteristic of many members of the Asteraceae family and dictates the plant's water-use efficiency and carbon assimilation rates under varying environmental conditions. The physiological efficiency of this carbon fixation method influences the plant's growth patterns, energy allocation, and overall response to light intensity and temperature fluctuations within its natural habitat.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Aster tataricus is characterized by its sexual mechanism, as the species features bisexual flowers that contain both male and female reproductive organs. The flowering period for this plant typically begins in July and continues through September. Once the seeds are produced, the plant utilizes an anemochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on wind currents to transport its seeds to new locations.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Sep

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Aster tataricus has 2 reported plant parts identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root, rhizome.

Root

1. Fitoterapia
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
3. Journal of plant research
4. Carcinogenesis

Rhizome

1. Fitoterapia
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Chemicals

Aster tataricus has 20 reported phytochemicals identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Astin C, Flavonoids, Terpenes, emodin, quercetin.

Astin C

1. Biotechnology journal
2. Cell reports

Flavonoids

1. Heliyon
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Terpenes

1. Heliyon
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

emodin

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Toxicology & pharmacology : CBP

quercetin

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Toxicology & pharmacology : CBP

Astin A

1. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

Aurantiamide acetate

1. Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Toxicology & pharmacology : CBP

Chrysophanol

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Epifriedelinol

1. Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Toxicology & pharmacology : CBP

Kaemferol

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Medicinal Uses

Aster tataricus has 8 reported medicinal uses identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include asthma, cough, Clonorchis sinensis, autoimmune disease, cancer.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations