1. ASTERACEAE (Compositae) Composite Family

3. Leaves: alternate or opposite, mostly simple,
usually toothed or lobed, texture coarse, rough

4. Inflorescences: heads (capitula), each of which
is surrounded by an involucre of bracts called
phyllaries

5. involucre
phyllary

6. Receptacle

8. Florets (flowers) of three general types:
Disc florets – these are actinomorphic, often perfect
Ray florets – these are zygomorphic, often pistillate or sterile
Ligulate florets – these are zygomorphic, usually perfect

9. Disc florets Corolla of five fused petals
Androecium of five stamens, these fused by their anthers, surrounding the style
Disc florets
Ovary inferior, gynoecium of two fused carpels

10. Calyx modified as a pappus, of hairs, bristles, etc.

12. Ligulate head and floret
Ray floret
Ligulate head and floret

13. Inflorescence structure:
Heads radiate – both ray and disc
florets
Heads discoid – all disc florets
Heads ligulate – all ligulate florets

14. An achene is a dry,
indehiscent,
one-seeded fruit .
Fruit an achene

15. Economic Importance: food (sunflower seeds, artichokes, lettuce),
ornamentals (zinnias, dahlias, cosmos, marigolds, chrysanthemums,
sunflowers …), pyrethrum, echinacea

16. R A G W E D

17. Making Sense of Diversity:
New England Tribes of the Aster Family

18. Cichoreae Chickory Tribe
(non-native)
Panicled hawkweed
Tribe characters: Heads ligulate; sap milky

19. Cynareae Thistle Tribe
Burdock
(non-native)
Spotted knapweed
(non-native)
Tribe characters: Heads discoid, involucre spiny

20. Eupatorieae Boneset Tribe
White snakeroot
Spotted Joe-pye weed
Tribe characters: Heads discoid; leaves opposite or whorled

21. Inuleae, Everlasting Tribe
Pearly everlasting
Cudweed
Tribe characters: Heads discoid, involucres papery, white

22. Heliantheae, Sunflower Tribe
Cosmos
(non-native)
Burr marigold
Woodland sunflower
Tribe characters: Heads radiate, receptacle chaffy; lvs. opposite

23. Anthemideae, Chamomile Tribe
Pineapple weed
(non-native)
Dog chamomile
(non-native)
Tansy
(non-native)
Tribe characters: Leaves finely dissected, aromatic

24. Senecioneae, Ragwort Tribe
Coltsfoot
(non-native)
New England arnica
Tribe characters: Heads radiate, phyllaries uniseriate; leaves alternate

25. Tribe characters: Heads radiate, phyllaries multiseriate;
Astereae, Aster tribe
Fleabane
Blue-stemmed
goldenrod
New England aster
Tribe characters: Heads radiate, phyllaries multiseriate;
leaves alternate