Golden asters facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Golden asters
Chrysopsis scabrella
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Asterales
Family:	Asteraceae
Tribe:	Astereae
Genus:	Chrysopsis (Nutt.) Elliott
Synonyms
Inula subg. Chrysopsis Nutt. Heterotheca sect. Chrysopsis (Nutt.) V.L.Harms Diplogon Raf. Inula sect. Chrysopsis Nutt. Diplopappus Cass.

Golden asters, also known by their scientific name Chrysopsis, are beautiful plants that are part of the sunflower family. These plants are native to the southern and eastern parts of the United States. You can find all the different kinds of golden asters growing naturally in Florida, and some types also grow in other states.

What Are Golden Asters?

Golden asters are types of plants called herbs. Some of them are annuals, meaning they grow, flower, and die within one year. Others are perennials, which means they live for more than two years and often come back each spring.

These plants have flower heads that look a lot like daisies. They usually have bright yellow disc florets in the center and yellow ray florets that look like petals around the outside.

Who Eats Golden Asters?

Golden asters are important food sources for the young forms (called larvae or caterpillars) of some Lepidoptera species, which are a group of insects that includes butterflies and moths. For example, the caterpillar of a moth called Schinia petulans eats only one specific type of golden aster, Chrysopsis subulata. This shows how different living things depend on each other in nature!

Types of Golden Asters

There are several different kinds of golden asters, and many of them are found in Florida. Here are some of the known species: