microsclere with rays issuing from a centre (euaster) or a short rod (streptaster), characteristic for a large assemblage of Demospongiae, often referred to as Tetractinomorpha. Asters are diverse in shape and size, and accordingly the following types are recognized and defined in this glossary:
-amphiaster
-anthaster
-anthosigma
-aspidaster
-chiaster
-diplaster
-discaster
-euaster
-metaster
-oxyaster
-oxyspheraster
-plesiaster
-pycnaster
-sanidaster
-selenaster
-spheraster
-spiraster
-sterraster
-sterrospheraster
-streptaster
-strongylaster
-tylaster

Alternative form for aster : asters.