The "Shirayama-giku" (Aster scaber) belongs to Asteraceae (the Aster family). It is a perennial herb that is native to Japan, the Korean Penninsula and China. This herb grows in montane grasslands and hillsides, and it can reach 1-1.5 m in height. The stems are usually tinged dark red. The underneath leaves are cordate with coarsely toothed edges and narrow winged, long petioles. The white flower-heads bloom at the branched stems from August to October. The flower-head consists of 6-8 ray florets. In Chinese, it is called "東風菜" (dong feng cai).