ASTERACEAE

SUNFLOWER FAMILY

David J. Keil, Family Editor and author, except as specified

Annual to tree
Leaves basal or cauline, alternate to whorled, simple to compound
Inflorescence: 1° inflorescence a head, each resembling a flower, 1–many, generally arrayed in cymes, generally subtended by ± calyx-like involucre; flowers 1–many per head
Flowers bisexual, unisexual, or sterile, ± small, of several types; calyx 0 or modified into pappus of bristles, scales, or awns, which is generally persistent in fruit; corolla radial or bilateral (rarely 0), lobes generally (0)4–5; stamens 4–5, anthers generally fused into cylinder around style, often appendaged at tips, bases, or both, filaments generally free, generally attached to corolla near throat; pistil 1, ovary inferior, 1-chambered, 1-seeded, style 1, branches 2, generally hair-tufted at tip, stigmas 2, generally on inside of style branches
Fruit: achene, cylindric to ovoid, generally deciduous with pappus attached
Genera in family: ± 1300 genera, 21,000 species (largest family of dicots): worldwide. Largest family in CA. Also see tribal key to CA genera: Strother 1997 Madroño 44(1):1–28. See glossary p. 25 for illustrations of general family characteristics.

CRUPINA

David J. Keil and Charles E. Turner

Annual
Stems erect, openly branched above
Leaves: basal entire or toothed; cauline alternate, pinnately lobed
Inflorescence: heads disciform; involucre cylindric to ovoid; phyllaries in several overlapping series, oblong-lanceolate, acute; receptacle chaffy
Flowers 3–15; outer sterile, inner 1–2 fertile; corolla purple, tube slender, gradually wider, lobes linear; anther bases short-tailed, tips narrowly triangular; style with minutely hairy cylindric node and papillate terminal segment, branches short, triangular
Fruit cylindric or ± compressed; base puberulent, soft-hairy upward; pappus (on fertile fruit only) of small scales and stiff bristles
Species in genus: 2 species: Eur
Etymology: (Latin: ancient name)