Asteraceae This family is still known commonly by its older name - Compositae. It is mainly herbaceous with a few shrubs and trees. The flowers have a unique arrangement which is not found in other families. What we commonly call the flower is really an inflorescence of many flowers. The petals are fused to form a regular corolla in so-called disc florets or an irregular corolla with a strap-like outgrowth in the ray florets. There may be only one kind of floret present - rays in the dandelion or disc in a pompom-mum - or both types - sunflower and shasta daisy. This is a very large family with many indoor and outdoors ornamentals and a few food crops.

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