Triveined aster is a plant of the Asteraceae family, which is closely related to wild chrysanthemums and Senecio. Not only do these three plants belong to the same family, but their flowers are all very similar from a distance and almost the same in size. Compared to Senecio, the flowers of Tri-veined Aster are more sparse, usually with only 9 to 12 tongue-like petals. Although the morphology is similar, the flower color of the two is significantly different, with Senecio appearing yellow and Trivenous Aster predominantly white. These three plants often grow together and compete with each other in the countryside, adding a touch of life to the cold winters. To help you better identify them, I recommend a book detailing Chinese herbal plants with high-definition images, perfect for readers of all ages.
Three-veined aster, also known as wild white chrysanthemum and mountain white chrysanthemum, is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Asteraceae family and Aster genus. Its stems are erect, the leaves are papery, oblong, and have distinct veins. The three-veined aster blooms from July to December, and as December ends, the flowers gradually wither, and the mature seeds flutter in the wind like dandelions. It is recorded in the "Collection of Materia Medica": "This grass grows next to Ze, such as Zelan and smelly. The northerners see that its flower is called purple chrysanthemum, and it is purple with its single-petal chrysanthemum. There is also a mountain orchid, born on the side of the mountain, like Liu Jinu, the leaf has no girl, not the birth, the heart of the flower is slightly yellow and red. This description describes the three-veined aster.
Trivein aster is widely distributed and spreads in almost all provinces of China. It is often found in underforests or on the edge of forests, and can even be found in some long-abandoned lands. In the countryside, we often see it on the side of the road or in the fields. Although the three-veined aster seems to everyone to be relatively ordinary, its value is very high. It has a variety of uses, mainly in three aspects.
1.Dietary efficacy: The fresh stems and leaves of the three-veined aster can be eaten as a wild vegetable. In spring, many plants produce young leaves, which can be picked and eaten as wild vegetables. Common wild vegetables in rural areas include dandelion, rattle, baihua sauce grass, wild wormwood, marantou, houttuynia cordata and so on. Tri-veined aster can also be used as one of the wild vegetables. On the second day of February, which is the "dragon raises its head" in the lunar calendar, many farmers will go to the fields to pick these wild vegetables. The way to eat three-vein aster is very simple, you only need to wash the three-vein aster picked back, blanch it with boiling water and mix it cold, or make soup, or even stir-fry it directly. The taste is delicious and helps to increase appetite and nutrient intake.
2.Medicinal efficacy: Tri-vein aster has extremely high medicinal value and can be used in medicine. In fact, in the countryside, there is an old saying that is deeply popular: "There are no weeds in the countryside, and all that can be used is treasure". Whether it is the common plantain or the cow tendon grass, it has unique medicinal properties. Three-veined aster is no exception, it is both a wild vegetable and a natural herb. In traditional Chinese medicine, three-vein aster is also known as the red tube medicine, which has the effects of cough and phlegm, heat clearing and detoxification. There is a similar record in the "Chinese Herbal Medicine". In fact, if a farmer encounters a traumatic hemorrhage in the field and understands the value of the three-veined aster, he will pick its leaves and mash them to use.
3.Drink efficacy: Three-vein aster can be used to make water or tea to drink. Rural elders call it "cough grass", and in summer, autumn and winter, they often pick its whole grass to soak in water and drink, or dry it for later use. It has the effect of clearing heat and detoxifying, relieving cough and reducing phlegm, and is very effective for throat protection and cough relief. Farmers can try it and enjoy the health benefits of this natural herb.
As a common herbaceous plant, three-veined aster is full of vitality and vitality in the countryside. Although it looks ordinary, its fresh stems and leaves can be eaten as a wild vegetable, and its medicinal value is also high, and it can be drunk in water or tea. It blooms from July to December, and as December ends, the flowers wither and the seeds flutter in the wind. Although Tri-veined Aster is common in rural areas, its importance cannot be overlooked. I hope that everyone will be able to recognize and understand this plant, discover its multiple benefits, and respect and protect every life in nature.