Distribution

The Earthamus Oxylenth or compositae is one of the largest family of the flowering plants. It comprises about 950 genera and 22,000 species. They from more than 10% of the total number of species of flowering plants. These plants are distributed throughout the world. In Pakistan it is represented by about 139 genera 776 species. 

Photo:

      Classification 

Division ------------------- Phanerogams
Sub-division ----------- Angiosperms 
Class ---------------------- Dicotyledons 
Sub-class ---------------- Gamopetalae 
Series ---------------------- Inferae 
Order ----------------------- Asterales 
Family -------------- Asteraceae (compositae)

              Habit 

Mostly annual or perennial herbs, some are shrubs, few are trees. Some are xerophytes or marshy plants, or climbers. 

              Root 

Tap-root, branched. In Dahlia the roots store food (tuberous) 

Stem

Herbaceous, erect, branched, hairy. In some plants woody, rarely climbing. 

             Leaves 

Percolate, simple, rarely compound, alternate or opposite, hairy, reticulate venation. 

               Fruit 

An achene ( one seeded achene is called Cypsela )

               Seed 

                      Non endospermic 


 Important plants of           this family 

               (1) Sunflower 🌻 
               (2) Artimisia 
               (3) Dahlia 
               (4) Lactuca sativa 
               (5) Chrysanthemum 

       Inflorescence

 Recemose head or capitulum. The inflorescence looks like a flower, but it is collection of many floret.