FORM mainly herbs, some shrubs.

Flowers in dense flowerlike heads (asters and dandelions. Tiny, with petals fused in strap like ray florets, or tubular disk florets.

Seeds often tipped with a tuft of fine bristles.

Genera     900      Species  14,000 in our area 690 (Gray); 537 (B&B)⁴³

Distribution global

Flowers unique florets gathered into flat heads. Ray flowers surrounding small tube like disk flowers formmed from five fused petals.

#Parts  Disk flowers 5    Symmetry radial

Leaves Alternate, rarely opposite or whorled; simple, entire to dissected.