Definition

Noun 1. A perennial wood aster native to eastern North America: Aster cordifolius is the scientific name for a specific species of flowering plant in the aster family. It is a herbaceous perennial known for its heart-shaped leaves and clusters of small, daisy-like flowers that typically bloom in late summer or fall.

Usage Examples

• The garden's shade border was brightened by the delicate blue flowers of .
• is valued by gardeners for its ability to thrive in woodland settings.
• Botanists studied the population of along the forest edge.

Advanced Usage

• In botanical nomenclature: The name is always written in italics. The first part () is the genus, and the second part () is the specific epithet, often describing a characteristic—in this case, "cordifolius" means "heart-leaved."
  • Correct: The specimen was identified as Aster cordifolius.
  • Incorrect: The specimen was identified as aster cordifolius. (Italics are typically required for scientific names.)

Variants and Related Words

• Common names: This species is also commonly known as blue wood aster or heart-leaved aster.
• Genus: Aster – the larger group containing many species of similar flowering plants.
• Specific epithet: cordifolius – a Latin-derived term used in taxonomy meaning "with heart-shaped leaves."

Synonyms

• Blue wood aster (common name)
• Heart-leaved aster (common name)

Related Terms (Contextual)

• Perennial: A plant that lives for more than two years.
• Wood aster: A general term for aster species that grow in wooded areas.
• Native plant: A plant that occurs naturally in a particular region without human introduction.

Noun

1. perennial wood aster of eastern North America