Composite A

Click the flower to find out.

What's a composite?

Flowers That Are Composites

Part A

Asteraceae is also known as the Composite Family, because the inflorescence is crowded into compact heads that look like single flowers. Each head is made up of numerous small individual flowers. The two kinds of flowers are disk flowers and ray flowers. Some composites have both disk and ray flowers, while others have only disk flowers or some only ray flowers.

The common name, genus and species, and family are given for each flower. Note: Since different references sometimes give different scientific names, more than one name may be listed under the flower picture.

Asteraceae

Sunflower Family

The flowers in this section have both disk flowers (center) and ray flowers (around the center disk). Some are difficult to tell apart. Phyllaries and leaves are often helpful in identification.
The Common Sunflower is seen along roadsides, in fields and plains.
Tall Coneflower's ray flowers hang down. It is common along montane streams.
There are 2 species referred to as Little Sunflower. Uniflora does not have enlarged basal leaves at flowering time. Its involucral bracts are not ciliate. (Ciliate is a fringe of hairs around the margin.) Bracts are reduced leaves subtending the flower.
Quinquenervous has enlarged basal leaves and the involucral bracts are ciliate. Both this species and uniflora are found in montane and subalpine zones.

Common Sunflower

Helianthus annuus

Asteraceae

Tall Coneflower

Rudbeckia ampla

Asteraceae

One-flowered Helianthella

Helianthella uniflora

Asteraceae

Little Sunflower

Helianthella quinquenervous

Asteraceae

Asteraceae Continued

Sunflower Family

Blanket Flower has disk flowers that are dark red. The ray flowers are 3 lobed. It is common in the foothills and montane zone.
Black-eyed Susan has dark brown disk flowers and pointed rays. It is found in dry mountain meadows.

Black-eyed Susan

Rudbeckia hirta

Asteraceae

Blanket Flower

Gaillardia aristata

Asteraceae

Asteraceae Continued

Sunflower Family

Heart-leaf Arnica has bright-yellow flowers that are usually single. It has opposite heart-shaped leaves. It is found in the montane and subalpine zones in moist coniferous forests.
Goldeneye has many flower heads. It also has opposite leaves but they are more lance shaped. It grows in the foothills and montane zones.
Orange Sneezeweed has flower heads that are yellow or yellow and orange. It is found in the foothills through the lower subalpine zone.
The flowers of Field Chrysanthemum have short broad rays with 3 lobes. They are found in gravelly soils in the foothill and montane zones.