The Aster reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004
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Aster

Aster
image:aster.jpg
Blossom of an Aster
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class:Magnoliopsida
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus:Aster
Species
(many - see text)

The Genus Aster includes some 600 species of widely distributed flowering plants in the Family Asteraceae. Many of the species are popular garden plants because of their showy flower heads.

Species include:

The China aster is in a related genus, Callistephus.