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The English called asters both "asters" and "starworts".
Aster, Latin for "star," referred to the flower's star-like
shape, while wort meant "root," which then applied to plants
with healing properties. There are over 600 species of aster, the most
popular being the Monte Casino.
Sentiment & Symbolism
Asters are the birth flower for September, and the herb of the
goddess Venus. Ancient people believed that the odour of the leaves of
the aster, when burnt, drove away serpents. Asters were laid on the
graves of French soldiers to symbolize afterthought and the wish that
things had turned out differently. One myth tells that asters were
created from stardust when Virgo looked down from the heavens and
wept. The poet Virgil holds that the altars of the gods were often
adorned with asters.
Color Messages
Asters convey an afterthought or variety, except in China, where
they signify fidelity. |