Arrow-Leaved Aster

Biocultural Value

The flowers and leaves can be eaten fresh or dried when eating aster plants. The Native American people harvest wild aster for a multitude of uses. The roots of the plant are used in soups and young leaves are cooked lightly and used as greens. The Iroquois people combine aster with bloodroot and other medicinal plants to make a laxative. The Ojibwa uses an infusion of aster root topically to aid with headaches. Portions of the flower are also used to treat venereal diseases.