Aster incisus (syn. Kalimeris incisa), is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae.[2] It is native to the Eastern Asia; Chita Oblast in Siberia, the southern Russian Far East, Inner Mongolia, Manchuria, the Korean peninsula, and Japan.[1]
Description
Aster incisus (common names include kalimeris and Japanese cutleaf aster)[3] is a herbaceous perennial, growing to a height of 30 to 120 cm, with a spread of approximately 50 cm.[4] Stems are erect, glabrous, and branched in the upper part. Leaves are lanceolate, alternating along the stem. The Latin name refers to the toothed or incised appearance of the leaves.[4]
Flowers are stellate, with ray florets pink to bluish-purple in colour, and disk florets yellow. Flowers appear from June to October. The fruit is an achene. Achenes are brownish, ovoid, measuring 3 - 3.5 mm.
It can take two to five years for a plant to reach maturity. Over time a group of plants will spread to form a colony.[5]
Subtaxa
The following varieties are accepted:
Aster incisus var. incisus
Aster incisus var. macrodon(H.Lév. & Vaniot) Soejima & Igari
Habitat
It prefers meadows and lowlands.
Medicinal use
A. incisa has been used in Korean traditional medicine. Research in Korea indicates that A. incisa has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties,[6] and may potentially be useful in treating several types of cancer.[7]
