Asteraceae

English: Sunflower/Daisy family
Dutch: Composietenfamilie

The Asteraceae is one of the largest plant families, comprising about 1,900 genera and 32,000 species. They are distributed worldwide and include many common wildflowers, garden plants, and some economically important species like sunflowers and lettuce.

Key Identifying Features

• Flowers: Composite flower heads (capitula) with many small flowers (florets) on a receptacle
• Floret types: Ray florets (petal-like) and/or disc florets (tubular) surrounded by bracts
• Fruits: Small, dry achenes, often with pappus (modified calyx) for wind dispersal
• Leaves: Variable, alternate or opposite, often simple

Parent: Plantae