Aster amellus Aster amellus Aster amellus, the European Michaelmas-daisy, is a perennial herbaceous plant of the genus "Aster", belonging to the Asteraceae family. In the language of flowers, the Michaelmas-daisy symbolizes a farewell or a departure. The genus name ("Aster") comes from the Greek and means "star-shaped flower." The specific name ("amellus") is first used in the Georgics (Book IV, 271-280), a poem of the Latin poet Publius Vergilius Maro (70 BC - 19 BC), but the etymology is obscure and uncertain. "Aster amellus" reaches on average a height of . The stem is erect and branched, the leaves are dark green.
Isonokami no Maro highest-ranking official after the . Prince Osakabe, and the highest-ranking official outside of the imperial family. In 705, Osakabe was replaced as "chi-daijō-kanji" by Prince Hozumi. In 708, Maro was granted the rank of , along with Fujiwara no Fuhito. Two months later, Maro was promoted to the long-vacant position of "sadaijin", and Fuhito filled his vacancy as "udaijin". However, Fuhito is supposed to have been the real political power at this time. In 710, the capital was moved to Heijō-kyō, and Maro was put in charge of the old capital. Four months later, his servant offered to the Emperor