Asteraceae part 1

Today and in several future posts I will be talking about members of the Asteraceae. This was called the Compositae for a very long time, which I think is a lot more descriptive about this largest dicotyledon family on Earth!

The first post is all about the classification which is extensive but makes good sense you will discover on the next page!

More information will be given in post 4, 5, 6 below as well as their known uses:

1. The Dandelion
2. Asteraceae (part 1) (This post!)
3. About the Common Ragwort or Jacobaea vulgaris
4. More science behind the Asteraceae! (part 2)
5. the more common Asteraceae and their uses (part 3)
6. the less common members (part 4)

Contents:

General information

1) Subfamily Carduoideae

Tribe 1: Cynareae

The flowers are rarely yellow, usually red to blue. Mostly thistles or very thistle-like.

2) Subfamily Cichorioideae

Tribe 2: the Cichorieae

Plants often produce the white latex, the flowers are usually yellow.

Tribe 3: the Arctotideae

with 2 genera but both are not native

3) Subfamily Asteroideae

The Third Subfamily is the largest one in this family and called Asteroideae, it has 13 tribes and 66 genera! But many are ornamental plants or garden escapes.

Tribe 4: the Gnaphalieae 

Tribe 5: Inuleae Tribe6: the Astereae    Tribe 7: Anthemideae Tribe 8: the Senecioneae Tribe 9: the Calenduleae  Tribe 10: Heliantheae  Tribe 11: Millerieae Tribe 12: Coreopsideae  Tribe 13: Tageteae  Tribe 14: Bahieae Tribe 15: Helenieae  Tribe 16: Eupatorieae 

General information

Although many are not directly useful for us humans, most of the flowers of this family are extremely good pollen and nectar providers for insects, seeds for birds and leaves for various larvae and small mammals.

The family mostly provides for edible and medicinal uses. I’ve only just recently acquired a little recipe book called ‘Cooking Weeds’ by Vivien Weise(Prospect Books) which has lots of lovely recipes and several are with members of this family namely the Dandelion, Daisy, Nipplewort, Ox-eye Daisy, Smooth Sow Thistle and Yarrow. 

I am grateful for all your information to share for more people to read and learn! My aim of the wonderful weed blog is to highlight those native plants which have a connection mainly with us people and all their known ‘uses’ from the past to the present day!

The link on the scientific names are usually from the Plant Atlas 2020 online or Wikipedia for genus only. Other links are from Wikipedia, Plants for a Future or other, usually U.K., websites.

To find the correct plant in this family, Stace compiled several keys whereby the capitulum should be dissected to identify all its component parts.

The family is also split into 3 subfamilies, 16 tribes and 104 genera.

Here we go:

1) Subfamily Carduoideae

• The first subfamily is Carduoideae and are distinctive in that they do not produce any white latex when cut, are often spiny and the leaves are spirally arranged along the stems. The flowers are rarely yellow, usually red to blue. Mostly thistles or very thistle-like. It only has one tribe.

Tribe 1: Cynareae has 13 genera/species

1. Echinops spp or Globe-thistles (all 3 spp. Intr-natd and grown in gardens)
2. Carlina vulgaris or Carline thistle and here
3. Arctium spp. or Burdocks with 3 species
4. Saussurea alpina or Alpine Saw-wort
5.  Carduus spp. or Thistles with 5 species
6. Cirsium spp. or Thistles with 10 species
7. Onopordum acanthium or Cotton thistle (arch.) and 1 Intrd-natd species
8. Cynara sp. + var. or globe Artichoke and Cardoon Intrd-surv.
9. Rhaponticum repens or Russian Knapweed (Intrd-natd)
10. Silybum marianum or Milk thistle (arch.) 
11. Serratula tinctoria or Saw-wort;
12. Centaurea spp. or Knapweeds with only few natives, several introduced or Arch. (10 species described in Plant Atlas Online) For uses of Common Knapweed by R. Harford see here.
13. Carthamus spp. or Safflower (2 spp both Intrd-casual)

2) Subfamily Cichorioideae

• The second Subfamily is the Cichorioideae which has 2 tribes and 25 genera. Plants often produce the white latex, the flowers are bisexual and usually yellow. It is rather a speciality to be able to identify those different yellow daisies!

Tribe 2: the Cichorieae has the following 23 genera and/or species: 

1. Scolymus hispanicus or Golden Thistle (Intrd-casual)
2. Cichorium intybus or Chicory (Arch), 
3. Catananche caerulea or Blue Cupidone (Intrd-natd)
4. Arnoseris minima or Lamb’s Succory, (Arch)
5. Hedypnois cretica or Scaly Hawkbit (Intrd-casual)
6. Lapsana communis or Nipplewort; 
7. Hypochaeris spp.or Cat’s-ears with 3 spp.
8. Scorzoneroides autumnalis or Autumn Hawkbit;
9.  Leontodon spp. or Hawkbits; 2 spp.
10. Picris hieracioides + 4 ssp. or Hawkweed Oxtongue;
11. Helminthotheca echioides or Bristly Oxtongue;
12. Scorzonera humilis or Viper’s-grass; 
13. Tragopogon pratensis or Goat’s-beard and also T. porrifolius or Salsify, which is the non-native root vegetable. (Intrd-natd)
14. Geropogon hybridus or Slender Salsify (Intrd-casual)
15. Aetheorhiza bulbosa or Tuberous Hawk’s-beard (Intrd-surv)
16. Sonchus spp. or Sowthistles; 4 spp.
17. Lactuca spp. or Lettuces with 5 spp:  2 native; 1 Arch; 2 Intrd.
18. Cicerbita spp or Blue-sowthistle with 1 native and 3 Intrd-natd
19. Mycelis muralis or Wall Lettuce,
20. Taraxacum agg. or Dandelions, which were covered by me in an earlier blog and has 9 different sections in Stace.
21.  Crepis spp. or Hawk’s-beards with 10 spp: 5 native and 5 Intrd or Arch.
22. Pilosella spp. or Mouse-ear-hawkweeds and the interesting Pilosella aurantiacum or Fox and Cubs . With 7 spp. with 3 native and 4 Intrd spp.
23. Hieracium spp. or Hawkweeds. Hawkweeds are considered one of the trickiest groups of plants in Britain and Ireland and just a new (third) handbook has been published by the Botanical Society of the British Isles BSBI in aid to provide identification for this complicated genus! Has 15 sections in Stace.

Tribe 3: the Arctotideae with 2 genera but both are not native. The Gazanias are a well known ornamental, bedding plant from South Africa.

1. Arctotheca calendula or Plain Treasureflower (Intrd-casual)
2. Gazania rigens or Treasureflower

3) Subfamily Asteroideae

• The Third Subfamily is the largest one in this family and called Asteroideae, it has 13 tribes and 66 genera! But many are ornamental plants or garden escapes.

Tribe 4: the Gnaphalieae with 12 genera:

1. Filago germanica or Common Cudweed) with 3 spp.
2. Antennaria dioica or Mountain Everlasting
3. Anaphalis margaritacea or Pearly Everlasting
4. Gnaphalium uliginosum or Marsh Cudweed
5. Laphangium luteoalbum or Jersey Cudweed (Neophyte)
6.  Logfia minima or Small Cudweed and Logfia gallica or Narrow-leaved Cudweed
7.  Omalotheca norvegica or Highland Cudweed, O. sylvatica or Heath Cudweed and O. supina or Dwarf Cudweed.
8. Gamochaeta purpurea or American Cudweed (Neophyte)
9.  Pseudognaphalium undulatum or Cape Cudweed (Neophyte) 
10. Helichrysum bellidioides or New Zealand Everlastingflower H. petiolare or Silver-bush Everlastingflower
11. Plecostachys serpyllifolia or Cape Everlastingflower (Intrd-natd)

Tribe 5: Inuleae with 4 genera:

1. Inula spp.: 5 species; 2 native; 1 Arch. and 2 Intrd-natd (e.g. Inula conyzae or Ploughman’s-spikenard)
2. Dittrichia spp. or Fleabanes: 2 Intrd-natd species
3. Pulicaria spp. 2 species both native. 
4. Buphthalmum speciosum or Yellow Oxeye (Intrd-natd)

Tribe 6: the Astereae with 11 genera:

1. Grindelia stricta or Coastal Gumplant
2. Calotis cuneifolia or Bur Daisy
3. Solidago spp or Goldenrods (With 5 spp on the B. I. with one native)
4. ‘Aster‘ spp. (12 have been renamed into other genera, mainly Symphyotrichum or Michaelmas-daisies ) is mostly introduced but has 2 native species, also no longer called ‘Aster’;
5. Tripolium pannonicum or Sea Aster and
6. Chrysocoma cernua or Shrub Goldilocks (Neophyte)
7. Euthamia graminifolia or Grass-leaved Goldenrod
8. Erigeron spp. or Fleabanes with 11 spp + 2 native, 9 Intrd-natd 
9. Callistephus chinensis or China Aster
10. Olearia spp or Daisy-bushes with 5 Intrd-natd species mainly originating from New Zealand
11. Baccharis halimifolia or Tree Groundsel from N. America
12. Bellis perennis or Daisy.
13. Galatella linosyris (syn. Aster linosyris) or Goldilocks Aster.

Tribe 7: Anthemideae with 13 genera: 

1. Tanacetum spp. or Tansies with 4 spp.; 2 Arch and 2 Intrd-natd
2. Artemisia spp. or Mugworts with 11 spp.; only 3 natives, 1 Arch. & 7 Neophytes
3. Santolina chamaecyparissus or Lavender-cotton: Intrd-natd.
4.  Achillea spp. or Yarrows with 6 spp; 3 native and 3 Intrd
5.  Chamaemelum nobile or Chamomile,
6.  Anthemis spp. or Chamomiles with 3 spp.; 2 Arch and 1 Intrd-natd
7. Glebionis segetum or Corn Marigold (Arch.) and G. coronaria or Crown Daisy (Intrd-casual)
8. Mauranthemum paludosum or Annual Marguarite: Intrd-casual
9. Leucanthemella serotina or Autumn Oxeye: Intrd-natd.
10. Leucanthemum vulgare or Oxeye Daisy and L. x superbum or Shasta Daisy; Intrd-natd
11. Matricaria chamomilla or Scented Mayweed (Arch) and M. discoidea + 2 ssp. or Pineappleweed (Intrd-natd) see also in this Wildfood blog,
12. Tripleurospermum spp. or Mayweeds: T. maritimum or Sea Mayweed (+ 3 ssp) and T. inodorum or Scentless Mayweed (Arch)
13. Cotula spp. or Buttonweeds with 6 Neophyte spp. according to the PlantAtlas 2020 online.

Tribe 8: the Senecioneae with 11 genera:

1. Senecio spp. (15) and Jacobaea spp. (5 + 2 hybrids) or Ragworts only 8 native and the remaining intrd-natd. See more in my following post here.
2. Pericallis hybrida or Cineraria: intrd-natd on Scilly Isles.
3. Delairea odorata or German-ivy: intrd-natd on Scilly Isles and in Cornwall
4. Tephroseris spp. or Fleaworts: 2 ssp. Tephroseris integrifolia subsp. maritima, also known as the Spathulate fleawort or South Stack fleawort, is endemic to Holyhead Island, occurring only around South Stack. T. palustris or Marsh Fleawort.
5. Brachyglottis spp. or Ragworts with 3 intrd-natd
6. Sinacalia tangutica or Chinese Ragwort; intrd-natd
7. Ligularia spp. or Leopardplants with 2 spp intrd-natd
8. Doronicum spp. or Leopard’s-banes with 4 spp intrd-natd in Plant Atlas Online
9. Tussilago farfara or Colt’s-foot,
10. Petasites spp.with 4 spp and 1 native: P. hybridus or Butterbur.
11. Homogyne alpina or Purple Colt’s-foot (Intrd-natd)

Tribe 9: the Calenduleae with 2 ornamental genera:

• Calendula or Marigolds (Calendula officinalis or Pot Marigold and C. arvensis or Field Marigold) and
• Osteospermum jucundum or Cape Daisy.

Tribe 10: Heliantheae with 5 genera all introduced weeds or ornamentals!

1. Ambrosia spp. or Ragweeds with 3 spp. intrd. (e.g. Ambrosia artemisiifolia)
2. Euphrosyne xanthiifolia or Marsh-elder semi-natd
3. Xanthium spp. or Cockleburs with 2 intrd-casual spp. (e.g. X. strumarium or Rough Cocklebur)
4. Rudbeckia spp. or Coneflowers with 2 spp both intrd. (e.g. R. hirta or Black-eyed-Susan)
5. Helianthus spp. or Sunflowers with 5 intrd. (e.g. Helianthus annuus or Sunflower)

Tribe 11: Millerieae with 3 genera and one common introduced weed:

1. Guizottia abyssinica or Niger; intrd-casual
2. Sigesbeckia serrata or Western St Paul’s-wort (neophyte)
3. Galinsoga spp. or Gallant-soldiers; 2 spp both intrd. (e.g. Galinsoga parviflora)

Tribe 12: Coreopsideae with 4 genera: 

1. Bidens spp. or Bur-marigolds.* with 7 spp and 2 natives
2. Coreopsis grandiflora or Large-flowered Tickseed & C. tinctoria or Garden Tickseed (Intrd-natd)
3. Cosmos bipinnatus or Mexican Aster; intrd-natd
4. Dahlia pinnata or Dahlia; intrd-casual

Tribe 13: Tageteae has got one ornamental genus Tagetes or Marigolds. T. erecta or African Marigold and T. patula or French Marigold.

Tribe 14: Bahieae with one introduced genus Schkuhria pinnata or Dwarf Marigold.

Tribe 15: Helenieae with 2 ornamental genera: Gaillardia x grandiflora or Blanketflower and Helenium x clementii or Sneezewort

AND FINALLY:

Tribe 16: Eupatorieae with 2 genera: 

• Eupatorium cannabinum or Hemp-agrimony and an ornamental bedding-plant called:
•  Ageratum houstonianum or Flossflower.

The last 2 pictures show a close up of Eupatorium cannabinum with Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly and the plant in its typical marshy habitat!

The following posts are all about the Asteraceae:

1. The Dandelion
2. Asteraceae (part 1) (= this post!)
3. About the Common Ragwort or Jacobaea vulgaris
4. More science behind the Asteraceae! (part 2)
5. the more common Asteraceae and their uses (part 3)
6. the less common members (part 4)