Smooth Aster
nêhiyawêwin (Cree): mistahisak-wiwask ("big head flower") <br/> Latin: <i>Aster laevis L.</i><br/>
By Stephanie Frost(Banner image) USask [CC BY-SA]
The Smooth Aster is a perrenial that grows in open, sunny areas, and ditches. Its purple flowers bloom in late fall, even as late as November. It's easily confused with Fringed Aster, which also has purple flowers. The Smooth Aster's flowers are more dense, and the leaves are different. Smooth Aster's leaves are thick, leathery, and smooth.
Because it blooms so late, Smooth Aster is a valuable source of nectar in the fall for bugs, moths, and butterflies. Birds have their share when Smooth Aster goes to seed (Asters, n.d.).
Like Smooth Aster, other members of the Aster family include Black-Eyed Susan, Chamomile, Coneflower, Fringed Aster, Goldenrod, Ox-eye daisy, Sage, and Yarrow.
Smooth Aster should be planted about a foot apart, in an open sunny area.
Medicine
You can chew the root for toothache and to relieve teething. Treat fever by inducing sweating or aid recovery from childbirth by drinking tea made from the roots (Cree Elder in Marles et al., p. 124).
References
(Banner image) "Smooth aster on the trail off College drive". University of Saskatchewan. [CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)]
Marles, R. J., Clavelle, C., Monteleone, L., Tays, N., and Burns, D. (2012). Aboriginal Plant Use in Canada's Northwest Boreal Forest. Edmonton, AB: Natural Resources Canada.
Cree Elder, Pelican Bay, Moose Lake, AB. Interviewed 1994, published in Marles et al., 2012.
Smooth Aster. (n.d.) Retrieved from Univeristy of Alberta Indigenous Teaching & Learning Gardens website: https://sites.google.com/a/ualberta.ca/our-garden/our-plants/smooth-aster
Asters. (n.d.) Retrieved from Canadian Wildlife Federation website: Asters - Canadian Wildlife Federation
Asters: How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Aster Flowers. (n.d.) Retrieved from The Old Farmer's Almanac webssite: https://www.almanac.com/plant/asters