3. Aster sect. Ageratoides (Kitamura) G. L. Nesom, Phytologia. 77: 247. 1994.
三脉叶紫菀组 san mai ye zi wan zu
Aster subsect. Ageratoides Kitamura, J. Jap. Bot. 12: 535. 1936.
Herbs, perennial, usually simple, erect. Leaves basal (withered at anthesis) and cauline; blade spatulate or ovate to narrowly ovate or lanceolate, margin flat, coarsely serrate to serrate, sometimes serrulate, 3-veined at base or below middle. Capitula radiate, terminal, paniculate-corymbiform to corymbiform. Involucres campanulate; phyllaries 3- or 4-seriate, unequal, not keeled, margin scarious. Receptacles flat or ± convex. Ray florets 1-seriate, 10-20, pale purple, lavender, or white; disk floret limb campanulate, lobes equal. Achenes obovoid to oblanceoloid, ± compressed, 3- or 4-ribbed (ray) or 2- or 3-ribbed (disk). Pappus of ray and disk florets 3-seriate, of numerous persistent, free bristles, innermost series clavate, outermost series of short bristles.
About eight species: E Asia; one species in China.
