*Asteraceae is the largest family of dicot plants and the second largest family of flowering plants coming next to Orchidaceae family(Monocot)* Various sources describe the total number of plant species as 23000 into 1620 genera and 12 subfamilies. I was searching for a simple key to differentiate the plants from Asteraceae family (Also called as Compositeae) Gurcharan ji has divided the family into 3 main groups according to flower structures. I couldn't find this in Flora of Maharashtra where the Key directly starts from Achenes and then the flower heads. Of course it takes into account the pattern of flower as we go further into the keys. I found some interesting Links which describe the family in good manner.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asteraceae http://www.wildflowers-and-weeds.com/Plant_Families/Asteraceae.htm * http://www.google.co.in/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=12&ved=0CH4QFjAL&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.florabymax.net%2FFLORAbyMAX%2FFamily-pdfs%2FFLORA-A%2FAsteraceae%2520(Aster%2520Family)%2520%2520(Genus%2520A-B).pdf&ei=vgOOUbugIM_PrQfgr4CYCQ&usg=AFQjCNFAMYoO_rrsuheeLD6WHcRS24GjGQ&sig2=iIX3JPXGMu-9yAY1LK3iQA&bvm=bv.46340616,d.bmk&cad=rja * Some botanical terms need to be refreshed during examining the Asteraceae plants which are also described in these links. Also adding a link of my old blog which has some basic information http://satishphadke.blogspot.in/2008/03/asteraceae.html Dr Satish Phadke -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "efloraofindia" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/indiantreepix?hl=en. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
