The family includes over 32,000
currently accepted species, in over 1,900 genera (list) in 13
subfamilies.This family is also known as Daisy family.
- Habit: Herbs (Ageratum, Lactuca,
Dahlia, Sonchus), shrubs (Inula, Senecio) rarely trees (Vernonia
arborea and Leucomeris). Many of the plants are xerophytes
(Proustia), hydrophytes (Cotula) some are semiaquatic (Caesulia
axilaris).
- Root: Tap root, sometimes modified
into tubers (Dahlia).
- Fruit: Absent; if present
cypsela.
- Seed: Non-endospermic.
- Stem: The stem is erect, branched
and cylindrical. It may be herbaceous or woody. It is pubescent
(covered with soft short hair) and green in color.
- Leaves: Simple leaves; entire and
spathulate They are cauline or ramal, alternate or exstipulate. The
leaves are sessile or petiolate, acute or serrate and with
unicostate reticulate venation.
- Flower: 2 kinds of florets (central
tubular disc florets surrounded by peripheral ray florets) in the
large capitulum. Bracteate, regular, epigynous, sessile. May be
bisexual or unisexual, actinomorphic or zygomorphic
- Pollen : The pollen of composites
is typically echinolophate