Asteraceae: The sunflower family

Botany (main)

Published: October 7, 2014, 9:50 pm

Topics:

Botany (main) Biodiversity (main) Biology (main)

Sunflower, Helianthus annuus (Photo by Aldo De Bastiani, via http://luirig.altervista.org/photos-search/index.php?title=Helianthus+annuus)

Asteraceae, also called Compositae, is one of the largest angiospermic plant families among the dicotyledonous,based on the large number of species (1,620 genera and 23,600 species) that represent this plant family with cosmopolitan distribution (Funk et al.,2005). Constituting almost 10% of all flowering plants worldwide, Asteraceae is usually divided into 12 subfamilies (Funk et al., 2009). Except for Antarctica, the family is most abundant in the sub-tropical and temperate latitudes, occurring commonly across meadows, valleys, grassy plains, rolling plateaus, and mountainous slopes (Funk et al., 2005 ; Bayer et al., 2007). Itincludesedible, medicinal, noxious, invasive and endangered species (Heywood et al., 2007). The majority of plant members representing this family are herbaceous in nature, but shrubs and trees, as well as creepers and climbers, are also reported. They can easily be detected by severalfactors, such asfused anthers, single ovules in fruits, and their capitulum inflorescence (Garcia et al., 2010).

Physical Description

Leaf arrangement is alternate,often appearing in basal rosette formation and the leaves are devoid of stipules. The floral arrangement is unique for this plant family with a distinct head-like structure appearing as a single flower called a capitulum (Fig 1). Botanically speaking, the capitulum inflorescence is an unique collection of numerous tiny flowers arranged on a common platform (receptacle). There are two types of flowers observed within the capitulum inflorescence-ray or ligulate and disk or tubular. The central part of the capitulum is occupied by the disk florets and the periphery is arranged with the ray florets.

Figure 1. Conspicuous capitulum inflorescence of Asteraceae family. (Saikat Basu, own work)

Flowers could be unisexual or bisexual (hermaphrodite), regular or irregular, but areusually pentamerous and sympetalous with inferior ovary. The common fruit type of Asteraceae is achenes. The specialized design of the flowers and the inflorescence are believed to promote pollination and the process of cross pollination. Androecium has five stamens united at the anthers, forming a tube-like structure around the style. Calyx is often absent in this family and are replacedby bristles or scaly structures in the form of pappus. The pappus is known to help in the widespread dispersal of matured seeds via wind. Mature seeds mostly do not have any endosperms. The wide diversity of the Asteraceae family is presented in Figures2-3.

Figure 2. Morphological diversity of floral structures among Asteraceae members. (Saikat Basu, own work)

Figure 3. Morphological diversity of floral structures among Asteraceae members. (Saikat Basu, own work)

Importance of Family

The plant family is important economically, producing many oil products such as sunflower, safflower etc; vegetables such as artichokes, lettuce etc; ornamental members such as dahlia, zinnia, cosmos, aster, sunflowers, marigolds, chrysanthemum etc; medicinal plants such calendula, tansy, chamomile, wormwood, arnica, coltsfoot, echinacea, elecampane, milk thistle, chicory etc and weeds like dandelion, ragwort, groundsel etc (Funk et al., 2009). Asteraceae is known to be one of the most evolved among the angiospermic plant families and is comparable to Orchidaceae members among monocotyledonous for their widespread, morphological, anatomical, physiological and ecological adaptations for wide distribution, dissemination and reproductive success (Heywood et al., 2007).

Figure 4. A-J. Variations in the inflorescence (capitulum) among different members of Asteraceae.K-M. Pappus (modified calyx), a diagnostic character of the Asteraceae family associated with the floralstructure. Thin and dried, they help in wide dispersal of the seeds of the plants via wind. Widemorphological variations are observed in the structure of pappus across the family. (Saikat Basu, own work)

Figure 5. Some important members of Asteraceae. A. Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) B. Dahlia sp.;C. Sunflower seeds after removal of the hard external seed coats; D. Acmella oleracea (L.) R. K. Jansen;D. Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale F. H. Wigg); and E. Parthenium hysterophorus L.(Saikat Basu, own work)

Fig 6. Weeds from Asteraceae family.(Saikat Basu, own work)

Plants representing Asteraceae members are presented in table 1.

Table 1. Plants representing Asteraceae family

Ref.	Species & accepted Taxa	Genera	Family
USDA, 2014	Acamptopappus sphaerocephalus (Harv. & A. Gray ex A. Gray) A. Gray	Acamptopappus (A. Gray) A. Gray	Asteraceae
USDA, 2014	Acourtia runcinata (Lag. ex D. Don) B.L. Turner	Acourtia D. Don
USDA, 2014	Ageratina altissima (L.) R.M. King & H. Rob.	Ageratina Spach
USDA, 2014	Amberboa moschata (L.) DC.	Amberboa (Pers.) Less.
USDA, 2014	Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.	Ambrosia L.
USDA, 2014	Anacyclus clavatus (Desf.) Pers.	Anacyclus L.
USDA, 2014	Anisocoma acaulis Torr. & A. Gray	Anisocoma Torr. & A. Gray
USDA, 2014	Aphanostephus skirrhobasis (DC.) Trel.	Aphanostephus DC.
USDA, 2014	Argyranthemum frutescens (L.) Sch. Bip.	Argyranthemum Webb
USDA, 2014	Arnoseris minima (L.) Schweigg. & Körte	Arnoseris Gaertn.
USDA, 2014	Baccharis bigelovii A. Gray	Baccharis L.
USDA, 2014	Balduina atropurpurea Harper	Balduina Nutt.
USDA, 2014	Barkleyanthus salicifolius (Kunth) H. Rob. & Brettell	Barkleyanthus (Kunth) H. Rob. & Brettell
USDA, 2014	Bebbia juncea (Benth.) Greene	Bebbia (Benth.) Greene
USDA, 2014	Berlandiera lyrata Benth.	Berlandiera DC.
USDA, 2014	Bigelowia nuttallii L.C. Anderson	Bigelowia DC.
USDA, 2014	Blepharizonia plumosa (Kellogg) Greene	Blepharizonia Greene
USDA, 2014	Borrichia arborescens (L.) DC.	Borrichia Adans.
USDA, 2014	Borrichia ×cubana Britton & S.F. Blake (pro sp.)
USDA, 2014	Calendula arvensis L.	Calendula L.
USDA, 2014	Calendula officinalis L.
USDA, 2014	Calycoseris parryi A. Gray	Calycoseris A. Gray
USDA, 2014	Calycoseris wrightii A. Gray
USDA, 2014	Carduus crispus L.	Carduus L.
USDA, 2014	Carlquistia muirii (A. Gray) B.G. Baldw.	Carlquistia B.G. Baldw.
USDA, 2014	Carthamus leucocaulos Sm.	Carthamus L.
USDA, 2014	Catananche caerulea L.	Catananche L.
USDA, 2014	Centratherum punctatum Cass.	Centratherum Cass.
USDA, 2014	Chaetadelpha wheeleri A. Gray ex S. Watson	Chaetadelpha A. Gray ex S. Watson
USDA, 2014	Chaptalia nutans (L.) Polak.	Chaptalia Vent.
USDA, 2014	Chrysactinia mexicana A. Gray	Chrysactinia A. Gray
USDA, 2014	Chrysopsis godfreyi Semple	Chrysopsis (Nutt.) Elliott
USDA, 2014	Clappia suaedifolia A. Gray	Clappia A. Gray
USDA, 2014	Constancea nevinii (A. Gray) B.G. Baldw.	Constancea B.G. Baldw.
USDA, 2014	Cosmos caudatus Kunth	Cosmos Cav.
USDA, 2014	Crupina vulgaris Cass.	Crupina (Pers.) DC.
USDA, 2014	Cymophora accedens (S.F. Blake) B.L. Turner & A. Powell	Cymophora B.L. Rob.
USDA, 2014	Delairea odorata Lem.	Delairea Lem.
USDA, 2014	Dicranocarpus parviflorus A. Gray	Dicranocarpus A. Gray
USDA, 2014	Doellingeria umbellata (Mill.) Nees	Doellingeria Nees
USDA, 2014	Dysodiopsis tagetoides (Torr. & A. Gray) Rydb.	Dysodiopsis (A. Gray) Rydb.
USDA, 2014	Echinacea laevigata (C.L. Boynt. & Beadle) S.F. Blake	Echinacea Moench
USDA, 2014	Eleutheranthera ruderalis (Sw.) Sch. Bip.	Eleutheranthera Poit. ex Bosc
USDA, 2014	Enydra sessilis (Sw.) DC.	Enydra Lour.
USDA, 2014	Eriophyllum congdonii Brandegee	Eriophyllum Lag.
USDA, 2014	Eupatorium altissimum L.	Eupatorium L.
USDA, 2014	Evax prolifera Nutt. ex DC.	Evax Gaertn.
USDA, 2014	Fitchia speciosa Cheeseman	Fitchia Hook. f.
USDA, 2014	Flourensia pringlei (A. Gray) S.F. Blake	Flourensia DC.
USDA, 2014	Flyriella parryi (A. Gray) R.M. King & H. Rob.	Flyriella R.M. King & H. Rob.
USDA, 2014	Garberia heterophylla (W. Bartram) Merr. & F. Harper	Garberia A. Gray
USDA, 2014	Glyptopleura setulosa A. Gray	Glyptopleura D.C. Eaton
USDA, 2014	Guardiola platyphylla A. Gray	Guardiola Cerv. ex Humb. & Bonpl.

USDA, 2014	Gutierrezia sarothrae (Pursh) Britton & Rusby	Gutierrezia Lag.	Asteraceae
USDA, 2014	Gynura aurantiaca (Blume) DC.	Gynura Cass.
USDA, 2014	Haploesthes greggii A. Gray	Haploesthes A. Gray
USDA, 2014	Hasteola suaveolens (L.) Pojark.	Hasteola Raf.
USDA, 2014	Hedypnois cretica (L.) Dum. Cours.	Hedypnois Mill.
USDA, 2014	Heliomeris soliceps (Barneby) Yates	Heliomeris Nutt.
USDA, 2014	Hemizonia fasciculata (DC.) Torr. & A. Gray	Hemizonia DC.
USDA, 2014	Heteranthemis viscidehirta Schott	Heteranthemis Schott
USDA, 2014	Holocarpha obconica (J.C. Clausen & D.D. Keck) D.D. Keck	Holocarpha Greene
USDA, 2014	Hymenopappus biennis B.L. Turner	Hymenopappus L'Hér.
USDA, 2014	Hypochaeris microcephala (Sch. Bip.) Cabrera	Hypochaeris L.
USDA, 2014	Ionactis elegans (Soreng & Spellenb.) G.L. Nesom	Ionactis Greene
USDA, 2014	Ixeris stolonifera A. Gray	Ixeris (Cass.) Cass.
USDA, 2014	Jamesianthus alabamensis S.F. Blake & Sherff	Jamesianthus S.F. Blake & Sherff
USDA, 2014	Jensia yosemitana (Parry ex A. Gray) B.G. Baldw.	Jensia B.G. Baldw.
USDA, 2014	Keysseria helenae (Forbes & Lydgate) Cabrera	Keysseria Lauterb.
USDA, 2014	Kyhosia bolanderi (A. Gray) B.G. Baldw.	Kyhosia B.G. Baldw.
USDA, 2014	Lagophylla ramosissima Nutt.	Lagophylla Nutt.
USDA, 2014	Lagophylla ramosissima Nutt. ssp. ramosissima
USDA, 2014	Lasiospermum bipinnatum (Thunb.) Druce	Lasiospermum M. Lagasca
USDA, 2014	Leontodon hispidus L.	Leontodon L.
USDA, 2014	Leontodon taraxacoides (Vill.) Mérat
USDA, 2014	Leuciva dealbata (A. Gray) Rydb.	Leuciva Rydb.
USDA, 2014	Logfia californica (Nutt.) Holub	Logfia Cass.
USDA, 2014	Lygodesmia grandiflora (Nutt.) Torr. & A. Gray	Lygodesmia D. Don
USDA, 2014	Malacothrix coulteri Harv. & A. Gray	Malacothrix DC.
USDA, 2014	Matricaria discoidea DC.	Matricaria L.
USDA, 2014	Micropus californicus Fisch. & C.A. Mey.	Micropus L.
USDA, 2014	Montanoa hibiscifolia (Benth.) Standl.	Montanoa Llave & Lex.
USDA, 2014	Nicolletia edwardsii A. Gray	Nicolletia A. Gray
USDA, 2014	Oclemena reticulata (Pursh) G.L. Nesom	Oclemena Greene
USDA, 2014	Onopordum acaulon L.	Onopordum L.
USDA, 2014	Osmadenia tenella Nutt.	Osmadenia Nutt.
USDA, 2014	Pallenis maritima Greuter	Pallenis Cass.
USDA, 2014	Pectis carthusianorum Less.	Pectis L.
USDA, 2014	Pericome caudata A. Gray	Pericome A. Gray
USDA, 2014	Phoebanthus grandiflorus (Torr. & A. Gray) S.F. Blake	Phoebanthus S.F. Blake
USDA, 2014	Piptocoma acevedoi Pruski	Piptocoma Cass.
USDA, 2014	Plecostachys serpyllifolia (P.J. Bergius) Hilliard & B.L. Burtt	Plecostachys Hilliard & B.L. Burtt
USDA, 2014	Polymnia laevigata Beadle	Polymnia L.
USDA, 2014	Prenanthes alata (Hook.) D. Dietr.	Prenanthes L.
USDA, 2014	Psathyrotopsis scaposa (A. Gray) H. Rob.	Psathyrotopsis Rydb.
USDA, 2014	Pseudogynoxys chenopodioides Kunth	Pseudogynoxys (Greenm.) Cabrera
USDA, 2014	Pulicaria dysenterica (L.) Bernh.	Pulicaria Gaertn.
USDA, 2014	Rafinesquia neomexicana A. Gray	Rafinesquia Nutt.
USDA, 2014	Ratibida pinnata (Vent.) Barnhart	Ratibida Raf.
USDA, 2014	Remya mauiensis Hillebr.	Remya Hillebr. ex Benth.
USDA, 2014	Rolandra fruticosa (L.) Kuntze	Rolandra Rottb.
USDA, 2014	Sachsia polycephala Griseb.	Sachsia Griseb.
USDA, 2014	Saussurea americana D.C. Eaton	Saussurea DC.
USDA, 2014	Scolymus hispanicus L.	Scolymus L.
USDA, 2014	Sericocarpus linifolius (L.) Britton, Sterns & Poggenb.	Sericocarpus Greene
USDA, 2014	Shinnersoseris rostrata (A. Gray) S. Tomb	Shinnersoseris S. Tomb
USDA, 2014	Silybum eburneum Coss. & Durieu	Silybum Adans.
USDA, 2014	Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn.
USDA, 2014	Simsia calva (Engelm. & A. Gray) A. Gray	Simsia Pers.
USDA, 2014	Simsia lagasceiformis DC.

USDA, 2014	Smallanthus uvedalius (L.) Mack. ex Small	Smallanthus Mack. ex Small	Asteraceae
USDA, 2014	Soliva mutisii Kunth	Soliva Ruiz & Pav.
USDA, 2014	Sphaeromeria capitata Nutt.	Sphaeromeria Nutt.
USDA, 2014	Sphagneticola gracilis (Rich.) Pruski	Sphagneticola O. Hoffm.
USDA, 2014	Spilanthes acmella (L.) L.	Spilanthes Jacq.
USDA, 2014	Spiracantha cornifolia Kunth	Spiracantha Kunth
USDA, 2014	Stenotus lanuginosus (A. Gray) Greene	Stenotus Nutt.
USDA, 2014	Stephanomeria exigua Nutt.	Stephanomeria Nutt.
USDA, 2014	Stokesia laevis (Hill) Greene	Stokesia L'Hér.
USDA, 2014	Struchium sparganophorum (L.) Kuntze	Struchium P. Br.
USDA, 2014	Stylocline intertexta Morefield	Stylocline Nutt.
USDA, 2014	Synedrella nodiflora (L.) Gaertn.	Synedrella Gaertn.
USDA, 2014	Tanacetum bipinnatum (L.) Sch. Bip.	Tanacetum L.
USDA, 2014	Tetradymia filifolia Greene	Tetradymia DC.
USDA, 2014	Thurovia triflora Rose	Thurovia Rose
USDA, 2014	Tonestus kingii (D.C. Eaton) G.L. Nesom	Tonestus A. Nelson
USDA, 2014	Tragopogon lamottei Rouy	Tragopogon L.
USDA, 2014	Tridax procumbens L.	Tridax L.
USDA, 2014	Tripolium pannonicum (Jacq.) Dobrocz.	Tripolium Nees
USDA, 2014	Tussilago farfara L.	Tussilago L.
USDA, 2014	Urospermum picroides (L.) Scop. ex F.W. Schmidt	Urospermum Scop.
USDA, 2014	Vanclevea stylosa (Eastw.) Greene	Vanclevea Greene
USDA, 2014	Varilla texana A. Gray	Varilla A. Gray
USDA, 2014	Venegasia carpesioides DC.	Venegasia DC.
USDA, 2014	Venidium fastuosum (Jacq.) Stapf	Venidium Less.
USDA, 2014	Verbesina alternifolia (L.) Britton ex Kearney	Verbesina L.
USDA, 2014	Verbesina aristata (Elliott) A. Heller
USDA, 2014	Verbesina chapmanii J.R. Coleman
USDA, 2014	Vernonia acaulis (Walter) Gleason	Vernonia Schreb.
USDA, 2014	Vernonia albicaulis Pers.
USDA, 2014	Vesicarpa potentilloides (A. Gray) Rydb.	Vesicarpa Rydb.
USDA, 2014	Viguiera cordifolia A. Gray	Viguiera Kunth
USDA, 2014	Wedelia lanceolata DC.	Wedelia Jacq.
USDA, 2014	Wilkesia gymnoxiphium A. Gray	Wilkesia A. Gray
USDA, 2014	Wyethia amplexicaulis (Nutt.) Nutt.	Wyethia Nutt.
USDA, 2014	Xanthisma texanum DC.	Xanthisma DC.
USDA, 2014	Xanthium spinosum L.	Xanthium L.
USDA, 2014	Xanthium strumarium L.
USDA, 2014	Xanthocephalum gymnospermoides (A. Gray) Benth. & Hook. f.	Xanthocephalum Willd.
USDA, 2014	Xylorhiza confertifolia (Cronquist) T.J. Watson	Xylorhiza Nutt.
USDA, 2014	Xylorhiza glabriuscula Nutt.
USDA, 2014	Xylothamia palmeri (A. Gray) G.L. Nesom	Xylothamia G.L. Nesom, Suh, D. Morgan & Simpson
USDA, 2014	Xylothamia triantha (S.F. Blake) G.L. Nesom
USDA, 2014	Yermo xanthocephalus Dorn	Yermo Dorn
USDA, 2014	Youngia japonica (L.) DC.	Youngia Cass.
USDA, 2014	Youngia thunbergiana DC.
USDA, 2014	Zinnia acerosa (DC.) A. Gray	Zinnia L.
USDA, 2014	Zinnia angustifolia Kunth
USDA, 2014	Zinnia anomala A. Gray
USDA, 2014	Zinnia maritima Kunth
USDA, 2014	Zinnia maritima Kunth var. palmeri (A. Gray) B.L. Turner
USDA, 2014	Zinnia peruviana (L.) L.
USDA, 2014	Zinnia violacea Cav.

References and Further Reading

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Citation

Basu, S., Zandi, P., Cetzal-Ix, W., & Sengupta, R. (2014). Asteraceae: The sunflower family. Retrieved from http://editors.eol.org/eoearth/wiki/Asteraceae:_The_sunflower_family