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Asterids: Asteraceae. Asterids. Very large, diverse group 10 orders, many families Apomorphies: iridoid compounds sympetalous corolla ovules: one integument and the megasporangium is generally one cell thick. Asteraceae. Probably the most evolved of the families Two types of flowers
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Asterids • Very large, diverse group • 10 orders, many families • Apomorphies: • iridoid compounds • sympetalous corolla • ovules: one integument and the megasporangium is generally one cell thick
Asteraceae • Probably the most evolved of the families • Two types of flowers • Ray • Disk • Herbs in our area, but can be trees in tropics • Very diverse: 19,000 species world-wide • Many flowers on the head inflorescence • Old name is compositae – b/c a composite of flowers
Asteraceae • Inflorescence a head (capitulum): (usu.) many flowers arising from a compound receptacle, subtended by inflorescence bracts: involucral bracts or phyllaries, collectively termed the involucre. • Calyx modified as pappus. • Fruit an achene.
Five types of heads: 1) discoid, with only disk flowers; 2) disciform, with central disk flowers and marginal, eligulate female flowers; 3) radiate, with central (bisexual or male) disk flowers and peripheral (female or sterile) ray flowers; 4) ligulate, with all ray flowers (typically with 5-toothed corolla apices); 5) bilabiate, with all bilabiate flowers.
Bilabiate flower posterior lip anterior lip Acourtia microcephala Trixis californica
Ray flowers (heads ligulate = all rays) ligulate corolla Rafinesquia neomexicana Malacothrix californica
Disk flower: heads discoid disk corolla Palafoxia arida Chaenactis gabriuscula Psathyrotes ramosissima
Disk flowers: heads disciform(2 types of disk fls., same or different heads) male heads female heads Ambrosia chamissonis
Heads radiate: inner disk & outer ray fls. disk flowers ray flowers Xylorhiza orcuttii Encelia farinosa
Some heads are "chaffy" ovary disk flower Encelia californica chaff : bracts subtending flowers
Involucre morphology two whorls many whorls one whorl Senecio vulgaris Coreopsis maritima Encelia californica
Involucre morphology Phyllaries spiny & squarrose Phyllaries spiny Circium vulgare Silybum marianum
Pappus: modified calyx beak capillary bristles, borne atop "beak" capillary bristles: barbellate capillary bristles: plumose
Asteraceae • Because the family is so large, it is divided into two Subfamilies which are then divided into tribes: 12 to 17 in the whole family • Aster = Subfamily Asteroideae • Six tribes we’ll see • Dandelion = Subfamily Cichorioideae • One tribe
Tribes of the Aster Subfamily • Heliantheae • Asterae • Anthemideae • Senecioneae • Gnaphalieae • Eupatorieae • Cynareae
Tribe Heliantheae – Sunflower tribe • Opposite leaves • Very resinous • Bracts attached to individual flowers (chaffy receptacle) • Both types of flowers • Sunflower (Helianthus) and Echinacea
Tribe Asterae – Aster Tribe • No bracts at the bottom of individual flowers • Example is genus Aster, generally fewer than 20 “petals” or ligulate flowers • Similar to above tribe, but without resinChrysothamnus (Rabbitbrush or chico) • Another important genus is Erigeron aka fleabane daisy
Tribe Anthemideae – Chamomile Tribe • Multiple layers of phyllaries of different lengths • Richly aromatic • Thin, dry, and translucent (i.e. scarious) bracts surrounding the flower base • Artemisia (sagebrush is in this tribe) • Achillea, Chrysanthemum
Involucre morphology two whorls many whorls one whorl Senecio vulgaris Coreopsis maritima Encelia californica
Tribe Senecioneae – Senecio or Groundsel Tribe • Silky pappus around each flower • Pappus is usually pure white and very abundant • Usually naked receptacle • Senecio
Tribe Gnaphalieae – Everlasting Tribe • Also has scarious bracts around flower base • No ligulate flowers, only tubular flowers • Example is cudweed or everlasting (Gnaphalium)
Tribe Eupatorieae – Boneset Tribe • “Baseball bat stigmas” • No ligulate flowers • Usually naked receptacle • Snakeweed, Gutierrezia • Liatris, common ornamental