Aster linosyris Goldilocks Aster

Goldilocks Aster is a very rare, yellow-flowered composite of coastal, limestone cliff habitats in Britain. In West Glamorgan it is confined to the limestone cliffs of south Gower and although it had been recorded there in the 1940s it wasn't until three decades later that it was rediscovered by Martin Page in 1974 while he was doing his undergraduate research project. Subsequent, diligent searching along the cliffs between Port Eynon and Rhosilli by Mervyn Howells led to the location of other populations. It is a rather dekicate aster which produces small, almost spherical clusters of yellow florets quite late in the grwoing season from September until the end of October. It is often found growing amongst Western Gorse (Ulex gallii) and Bell Heather (Erica cinerea) along with Small Scabious (Scabiosa columbaria) and other calcicoles.

Native