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.

SOLIVA

Martin F. Ray

Annual, ± depressed, glabrous to densely hairy
Leaves pinnately lobed or compound; petiole bases wide, ± clasping
Inflorescence: heads disciform, sessile in basal and cauline axils; phyllaries in 1–2 series, green to scarious; receptacle flat, naked
Pistillate flowers: corollas 0; style 2-branched
Disk flowers staminate; corollas 4-lobed; ovary sterile
Fruit flattened, often winged, tipped by a sharp, persistent stylar spine; pappus 0
Species in genus: ± 5 species: South America
Etymology: (Dr. Salvador Soliva, 18th century physician to Spanish court)
Reference: [Cabrera 1949 Not Mus La Plata 14:123–139; Ray 1987 Madroño 34(3):228–239]