'asteraceous' originates from New Latin 'Asteraceae' (the botanical family name), ultimately from Greek 'aster' where 'aster' meant 'star'. The English adjective is formed by adding the Latin-derived suffix '-aceous' (meaning 'belonging to').

'aster' (Greek) → Latin/New Latin 'Aster' (genus) → New Latin 'Asteraceae' (family name) combined with Latin suffix '-aceus/-aceous' to form the adjective 'asteraceous' in modern English botanical usage.

Initially related to the root meaning 'star' (from Greek 'aster', referring to the star-shaped ray florets), it evolved to denote specifically plants of the Asteraceae (aster/composite) family rather than a general 'star-like' quality.