Definition

Noun: 1. A large family of flowering plants: The aster family is a major botanical family (Asteraceae or Compositae) characterized by having flower heads that are actually composites of many small individual flowers (florets). This family includes many common herbs, shrubs, and some trees.

Usage and Examples

• General Reference: The term is used to categorize or describe plants belonging to this specific botanical group.
  • The dandelion and sunflower are both members of the aster family.
  • Botanists study the unique structure of the flower heads in the aster family.

Advanced Usage

• In Botanical Classification: The name is often used synonymously with the scientific family names Asteraceae or Compositae.
  • The aster family (Asteraceae) is one of the largest families of flowering plants.

Variants and Related Words

• Asteraceae: The modern scientific Latin name for the aster family.
• Compositae: An older but still accepted alternative scientific name for the same family.
• Composite family: A common English alternative name, referring to the composite nature of the flower heads.

Synonyms

• Composite family
• Sunflower family (a common informal name)

Related Terms and Concepts

• Floret: A small, individual flower that is part of the composite head.
• Flower head / Capitulum: The characteristic inflorescence structure of the family, which looks like a single flower but is a cluster of many florets.
• Pappus: A modified calyx, often forming a feathery or hairy structure that aids in seed dispersal, common in this family (e.g., on dandelion seeds).

Noun

1. plants with heads composed of many florets: aster; daisy; dandelion; goldenrod; marigold; lettuces; ragweed; sunflower; thistle; zinnia