| Habit |
various |
| Stem: |
various |
| Leaves: |
various |
| Inflorescence: |
Head, subtended
by involucral bracts (phyllaries) |
| Flower: |
2 types, disc
flowers and ray flowers, epigynous |
| Perianth: |
unique |
| Calyx: |
Ø, sometimes
replaced by pappus which matures with the fruit |
| Corolla: |
Disc- 5-merous,
tubular, regular; ray 5-merous, ray like (strap shaped)(ligulate) |
| Hypanthium: |
Ø |
| Androecium: |
5 stamens, epipetalous,
united by their anthers, rays often male sterile |
| Gynoecium: |
Syncarpous,2 |
| Ovary position: |
Inferior,
1 locule, 1 ovule |
| Stigma: |
Various stigmatic
lines on the style branches |
| Style: |
2 style branches |
| Fruit type: |
Achene |
| Other: |
Second or third largest
family worldwide, largest dicot family, largest family in California |
| Representatives: |
Aster,
Helianthus (sun flower), ragweed, cocklebur, marigold, artichoke, dandylion,
lettuce |
