Sun Flower

Asteraceae or Compositae (commonly referred to as the aster, daisy, or sunflower family is the largest family of vascular plants. The main feature of the family is the

* composite flower (a flower head)

* type in the form of capitula( small flower head)

* surrounded by involucral bracts (modified or specialized leaf, especially one associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis that appear in a whorl (type of spiral or circular pattern used to describe the attachment of sepals, petals, leaves, or branches at a single point) subtending an inflorescence, They may simulate the sepals),

* it has inflorescence (group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem).

Characteristics of this Plant Family:

Leaves, Stem & Roots ~ The leaves of this family are often undivided and spoon-shaped, but they are sometimes toothed or divided, and they may be prickly. There is often a basal rosette, as in the Daisy or Dandelion, and there may be leaves on the stem, as in the thistle. The stem itself may be solid or hollow and it, too, may be prickly. The roots may be short and near the surface, as in the Daisy, or there may be a long tap root, as in the Dandelion or Thistle. Asteraceae generally produce taproots, but sometimes they possess fibrous root systems. Stems are generally erect, but can be prostrate to ascending. Some species have underground stems in the form of caudices or rhizomes. These can be fleshy or woody depending on the species

Flowers ~ It is the flowers which give this plant family its original name of Compositae They are composite, or made up of many individual flowers. These flowers may be regular (disc florets), with all the petals the same size, or irregular (ray florets), with some petals larger than others. Often, the disc florets form the central disc of short flowers, and the irregular ray florets form the outside 'petals' with the larger edge on the outside of the flower head. In the photograph, the...