Daisy Family

• • The Daisy Family, Asteraceae or Compositae, also referred to as the aster or sunflower family, is the largest family of vascular plants.

  • The family has more than 22,750 currently accepted species, spread across 1620 genera, and 12 subfamilies.

  • Most members of the Asteraceae are herbaceous, but a significant number are also shrubs, vines and trees.

  • The family is distributed throughout the world, and is most common in the arid and semi-arid regions of subtropical and lower temperate latitudes.

  • Many economically important products come from composites, including cooking oils, lettuce, sunflower seeds, artichokes, sweetening agents, and teas.

  • Several genera are also very popular with the horticultural community, these include marigolds, chrysanthemums, dahlias, zinnias, and heleniums.

Links to Daisy Family