Derives from the Greek name
“aster (αστηρ)”
which means “a star” an aster type plant* and the Greek
suffix “ias (-ιας)”meaning
“like to, comparable, similar ”
The specific name
implies:"star like (like an aster)").
(For example
Astrophytum Asterias).
* Referring to the Aster
(Aster amellus) (Asterias is also the name of
a genus of starfish)
