ASTERACEAE/COMPOSITAE
NB Both family names may be used
Morphological description
Plant herbaceous. Sometimes trees (Vernonia arborea, some Olearia, some Senecio).
Leaves
Leaves spiral; exstipulate.
Inflorescence
Inflorescence an involucrate head usually with two types of flower: inner actinomorphic, tubular (disk florets), outer zygomorphic (ray florets), calyx transformed to hairy pappus.
Flowers
Flower petals fused, style bifid; ovary inferior, 1-locular, 1 ovule.
Fruit
Calyx transformed to hairy pappus.
Different from: In flower not likely to be confused with other families.
Distribution: The family world-wide. In Malesia c. 70 genera, few species in rain forest. Most Malesian species are widespread weeds: - Bidens (cosmopolitan), herbs, mostly weeds; - Blumea (paleotropics), herbs and shrubs, open places, also forest; - Dichrocephala (paleotropics), herbs, forest floor; - Eupatorium (pantropical, mostly American), shrubs, secondary forest; - Vernonia (widespread), herbs, shrubs, lianas, trees, open places and forest; - Wedelia (pantropical), shrubs, some coastal.
Notes: Many species (mostly non-Malesian) cultivated ornamentals: Aster, Cosmos, Dahlia, Zinnia. — Edible leaves: Cichorium, Cosmos, Erechtites (p.p.), Lactuca (p.p.), Pluchea. — Medicinal use: i.
Literature: C.A. Backer & R.C. Bakhuizen van den Brink, Fl. Java 2 (1965) 362-437; J.Th. Koster, various papers in Blumea and Nova Guinea.
Spot characters (Van Balgooy): Compositae plants with white or yellow sap (p.p.), leaves compound opposite (p.p.), leaf with domatia (p.p.), leaf with dots (p.p.), leaf margin dentate/ serrate (p.p.), inflorescence compact (in a head), flowers yellow (p.p.), stamens with appendages (p.p.), ovary inferior; Acanthospermum fruit spiny or muricate; Ambrosia fruit spiny or muricate (p.p.); Anaphalis fenugreek smell (p.p.), seeds comose; Artemisia leaf surface puncticulate; Bidens leaves 2-,3- (or 4-)pinnate (p.p.), fruit spiny or muricate; Blumea seeds comose; Centratherum leaves bullate; Conyza seeds comose; Cosmos leaves 2-,3- (or 4-)pinnate, fruit spiny or muricate (p.p.); Crassocephalum seeds comose; Crepis leafless when flowering (p.p.); Emilia seeds comose; Erechtites seeds comose; Erigeron seeds comose; Eupatorium s.l. 23, seeds comose; Glossogyne fruit spiny or muricate; Gnaphalium seeds comose; Grangea stem flanged; Gynura seeds comose; Inula seeds comose; Lactuca cushionplants (p.p.), seeds comose; Laggera stem flanged, seeds comose; Launaea seeds comose; Microglossa seeds comose; Mikania climbers without hooks/tendrils, climbers with opposite leaves, seeds comose; Olearia stellate hairs,62; Pluchea seeds comose; Pterocaulon stem flanged, seeds comose; Lagenocypsela cushionplants; Rhynchospermum seeds comose; Senecio stellate hairs, seeds comose; Sonchus seeds comose; Sphaeranthus stem flanged; Tetramolopium seeds comose; Verbesina alata stem flanged; Vernonia climbers without hooks/tendrils, seeds comose; Wedelia asperima leaf surface rough; Xanthium fruit spiny or muricate (p.p.;) Youngia seeds comose.
Illustrations: Fig. 33. Arrhenechthites novoguineensis (S. Moore) Mattf. subsp. Novoguineensis, J.Th. Koster, Blumea XVIII nr. 1 (1970) 142, fig.19. & Fig. 34. Crassocephaleum crepidioides (Benth.) S. Moore: a. habit; b. flowerhead; c. disk flower, & Fig. 35. Synedrella nodiflora (L.) Gaertn.: a. habit; b. flower; c. fruit. Asteraceae | (valid as is Compositae] C.A. Backer & R.C. Bakhuizen van den Brink, Fl. Java 2 (1965) 362-437; J.Th. Koster, various papers in Blumea and Nova Guinea.
Images in PhtyImages for Asteraceae.