Asteraceae

Asteraceae

Asteraceae, also known as the aster family, is a large and diverse family of flowering plants commonly known as the Asteraceae. The name comes from the Greek word aster, meaning star, and refers to the fruit, which is a composite flower consisting of a star-shaped cluster of reproductive organs called an aster.

The family is one of the largest families of flowering plants, with about 60,000 species, making it the third-largest family of flowering plants, after Orchidaceae and Fabaceae. The largest genera are Astragalus (1,000 species) and Camelina (1,000 species), with the greatest species diversity in the Americas.

Asteraceae family:

Asteraceae, also known as the aster family, is a large and diverse botanical family, with more than 35,000 currently accepted species and many more undescribed species. Asteraceae is one of the largest families of flowering plants and the fifth most species-rich plant family.

The family includes plants with seeds in two or more rows and with a thickened cotyledon, such as sunflowers and daisies. Most are herbaceous plants, but some, such as the lichen-forming genus Lobaria, are shrubs. Asteraceae is a genus of flowering plants in the daisy family.

Asterales encompasses about 3,000 species of herbaceous plants found in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. The family is divided into about eight subfamilies, which are further divided into about 30 to 40 genera.

Subfamilies of the Asteraceae family:

The Asteraceae family is made up of more than 30,000 species of flowering plants, shrubs, trees, vines, and herbs. They are the largest family of flowering plants, containing a large number of economically important plants, including many vegetables and ornamental flowers.

Many species of aster are native to the Americas, but the largest amount of aster diversity is found in the Old World. The family is divided into two subfamilies: Asteroidea, which is further divided into the tribes Coreeae, Heliantheae, and Orygeneae; and Compositae, which is further divided into the tribes Senecioneae, Lepidozonaleae, and Brassicales.

Three tribes of Asteroideae:

Asteroidea is the largest subfamily and is further divided into three tribes: Coreeae, Heliantheae, and Orygeneae. The tribe Coreeae is further divided into subfamilies, including the genera Coreopsis, Echinacea, and Phacelia. The tribe Heliantheae includes sunflower and aster species is further divided into subfamilies, including Helianthus, Heliopsis, and Heliadenieae. The subfamily Orygeneae is divided into the genera Oryzae, Oryzopsis, and Oryzopsis Grandiflora.

Asteroidea contains the three tribes described above. Coreeae contains species with leaves that have five to seven lobes and flowers with five petals, such as goldenrods.

Heliantheae contains species with leaves with three to seven lobes and flowers with three petals, such as the sunflowers. Orygeneae contains species with leaves that have one to three lobes and flowers with two petals, such as the aster.

Three tribes of Compositae:

The three tribes of compositae are Senecioneae, Lepidozonaleae, and Brassicaceae. The Senecioneae is divided into the genera Aster, Calendula, Coreopsis, and Solidago. The Lepidozonaleae is divided into the genera Lepidium, Polygonum, and Tragopogon. The Brassicaceae is divided into the genera Brassica, Sinapis, and Arabidopsis.

Senecioneae (scented plants, including chamomile, daisy, ragweed, and tansy) are composites with a single flower head. Lepidozonaleae (liverworts) have alternate leaves and stems with peltate (compound) leaves. Brassicaceae (mustards, including broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower) have alternate leaves and flowers in a spike.

Characteristics of Asteraceae family:

1. Asters are very diverse in appearance and are not very easy to distinguish from each other. 
2. They grow in habitats from sea level to alpine regions, in open or forest habitats. 
3. They are generally perennial herbaceous plants, which have an underground rootstock.
4. They are usually monoecious (one flowering organ at a time), with male and female flowers on the same plant.
5. The flowers of Asteraceae are usually yellow, white, or red.
6. They have a peltate or radiate type of phyllotaxy.
7. Aster species are herbaceous plants with short, broad, and flat leaves. The flowers are composed of five petals and five sepals, which are often coloured in shades of yellow, orange, or red. 
8. Aster flowers are generally small and inconspicuous, with a single flower head composed of several individual flowers.
9. They have a complex branching structure, with flowers that are ray or disc-shaped and that have a long tubular corolla.

Conclusion:

The Asteraceae is a large and diverse family of flowering plants that contain a large number of popular garden plants, such as dahlias, marigolds, and impatiens. They are often referred to as the aster family or Asteraceae. The Asteraceae contains over 40,000 species, which is more than any other family in the plant kingdom. The Asteraceae are known for their showy flowers, which are often brightly coloured.

There are more than 14,000 known species of Asteraceae, many of which are popular ornamental plants.