Golden-star

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Golden-star
• Golden Starwort

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Asteriscus nanus
• Asteriscus sessilis
• Bubonium aquaticum
• Nauplius aquaticus
• Dontospermum aquaticum
• Asteriscus aquaticus subsp. nanus
• Inula aquatica
• Asteriscus aquaticus var. nanus
• Asteriscus citriodorus
• Asteriscus confusus
• Asteriscus morrisonii
• Buphthalmum aquaticum

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. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Asterales, it is further categorized into the family Asteraceae. It is specifically identified by the genus Asteriscus, which includes the species Asteriscus aquaticus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution across several European regions. In Middle Europe, it can be found growing in Belgium, Germany, and Poland. Its presence also extends to the mountainous landscapes of Switzerland. Moving toward the Mediterranean, the species is located in Southwestern Europe within the Baleares. Together, these locations define the natural range of Asteriscus aquaticus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Asteriscus aquaticus is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning the plant completes its entire developmental process—from germination to seed production—within a single growing season. In terms of its structural growth strategy, it is classified as a therophyte, a life form defined by plants that survive unfavorable seasons as ephemeral seeds, allowing them to rapidly colonize suitable habitats when conditions become favorable. This therophytic nature ensures that the plant can effectively navigate its environmental constraints by focusing its biological energy on a quick reproductive cycle before the onset of environmental stress.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Asteriscus aquaticus is characterized by a growth form of a non-woody herb. This plant exhibits a versatile ecological habit, ranging from aquatic and semiaquatic environments to terrestrial habitats. It functions as an independent organism, neither acting as a parasite nor an epiphyte, maintaining a terrestrial nature when not submerged. The plant is self-supporting rather than being a climber, such as a liana or vine, and displays an erect shoot orientation. In terms of physical dimensions, it is a diminutive species with a plant height ranging from a minimum of 0.1 m to a maximum of 0.5 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.5 m

Plant height min:

0.1 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Asteriscus aquaticus is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency in its typical environmental conditions. This metabolic framework is integrated with a morphological structure featuring elliptic leaf forms, which play a critical role in the plant's gas exchange and transpiration regulation. The combination of its C3 carbon assimilation and the specific surface area provided by its elliptic leaves influences its overall water-use efficiency and ability to manage light interception for optimal growth.

Leaf form :

elliptic

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Asteriscus aquaticus is characterized by a flowering period that begins in March and extends through August, though the timing can be variable. During this cycle, the plant produces flowers that are typically yellow in color, with a width ranging from a minimum of 1.5 cm to a maximum of 3 cm. Following pollination, the plant develops fruit in the form of an achene. These fruits are indehiscent, meaning they do not open at maturity to release their contents. The seeds produced are notably small and uniform in weight, with a recorded mean, minimum, and maximum seed mass of 0.00078 g.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Flower colour :

yellow

Flower width max:

3 cm

Flower width min:

1.5 cm

Flowering time :

Mar

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit type :

achene

Seed mass mean:

0.00078 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Asteriscus aquaticus has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Asteriscunolide A, Asteriscunolide D.

Asteriscunolide A

1. Natural product letters

Asteriscunolide D

1. Natural product letters

Preparations

Asteriscus aquaticus has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include aerial part.

Aerial part

1. Natural product letters