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.

SAUSSUREA

David J. Keil and Charles E. Turner

Perennial
Leaves basal and cauline, alternate
Inflorescence: heads discoid, 1–many; involucre ovoid to ± obconic; phyllaries many, in several series, unequal, acute; receptacle flat or rounded, naked to bristly
Flowers few–many; corollas blue to purple, tube slender, throat abruptly wider, lobes linear; anther bases short-tailed, tips linear, acute; style branches oblong, short-papillate, tips minutely hairy
Fruit oblong, ± angled, attached at base; pappus of 1–2 series, outer of short bristles or scales, inner of generally longer plumose bristles fused at base
Species in genus: ± 300 species: Eurasia, North America
Etymology: (Theodore & Horace Saussure, Swiss naturalists, 18th century)