All representatives Asteraceae family have inflorescences - baskets with small flowers. This is a characteristic feature of all plants related to Compositae. The corolla of their flower consists of petals soldered together. There are inflorescences formed by reed flowers, like those of a dandelion, or tubular, like those of a bodyak. In some species of composite plants, tubular flowers are found only in the center of the basket, and along the edges are funnel-shaped, like a cornflower, or reed, like a chamomile. The cup is replaced by a tuft of films or hairs. Also, the flower has five fused stamens, one carpel, from which the fruit is formed - the achene.

Many plants from Asteraceae family used in agriculture. Among them it is necessary to highlight vegetable plants(chicory, lettuce), medicinal (dandelion, chamomile), fodder (ground pear), oilseeds (sunflower). There are also many ornamental plants among the Compositae. But there are also those that cause damage to crops of vegetable and fodder crops. it weeds- thistle, burdock, thistle, cornflower, thistle.

Other members of the Compositae family. The most common plants in the Asteraceae family are sow thistle field and thistle field. These are the weeds with which the workers Agriculture and gardeners are waging a stubborn uncompromising struggle. Representatives of these species reach a height of more than a meter. Violet-red flowers bloom during the blooming period, while sow thistles have yellow ones. These weeds disperse 5,000 to 6,000 seeds per summer from each plant. Their fecundity exceeds that of the dandelion. In addition, the roots of these plants have many adventitious buds from which a new plant can develop. Therefore, in order to get rid of these weeds in the fields and gardens, a long-term constant struggle is being waged with them.

However, not only weeds belong to the Compositae family. Of the useful cultivated plants, it is necessary to mention Jerusalem artichoke or earthen pear. Outwardly, this plant resembles a sunflower. The structure of the stem, leaves, inflorescences is similar. But the main difference between Jerusalem artichoke is the presence of underground tubers.

Many Compositae are ornamental plants. In gardens and parks, you can see representatives of this family, such as asters, dahlias, daisies, chrysanthemums. Among the wild wildflowers, everyone knows chamomile, cornflowers, cat's paws, which also belong to Compositae.

Plants with beautiful bright flowers form a large family of Compositae. It includes more than 32 thousand species distributed on different continents.

general description

The second name of the family is Asteraceae. These are angiosperms or flowering plants belonging to the class Dicotyledons.

Most of the family are herbaceous annuals or perennials. In areas with a tropical climate, there are shrubs (some species of the genus Brachilena) and trees (petiolate scalesia).

A characteristic feature of plants is small flowers located at the expanded end of the pedicel, forming a basket. From the outside it may seem that this is a solitary large flower with long petals. In fact, the core of the "flower" is formed by many small flowers 2-3 mm long. Vivid examples are sunflower, chamomile, dandelion, cornflower.

Rice. 1. Representatives of Compositae.

plant structure

General characteristics of the Compositae family are presented in the table.

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flower morphology

The flower is the most complex part of the plant. small flowers consist of five petals fused into a tube. According to the shape, five types of interpetal corolla are distinguished:

• tubular - initial type with correct form, consisting of a tube (fused corolla) and five petals bent to the sides, more often bisexual;
• funnel-shaped - a kind of tubular corolla without stamens and pistils with an expanded and bent to the side upper part;
• reed - irregular shape, consisting of a fused lower part of the corolla, and a tongue formed by five fused and recurved petals, often bisexual;
• pseudolingual - a variety of reed type with a tongue of three fused petals, usually has only a pistil;
• bilabiate - a unisexual or bisexual variety of the reed type with two reeds formed by three and two fused petals.

Rice. 2. The structure of the Compositae flower.

In some representatives of Compositae, the basket consists only of tubular flowers (burdock, artichoke), in others - only of reed flowers (lettuce, dandelion, chicory). In some species, for example, in chamomile, tubular flowers are in the center, and reeds are located along the edges (white petals are elongated tongues).

In one basket, flowers of different sexes are combined. On the edges can only grow female flowers, and inside - bisexual or male. All flowers can be bisexual or only central (sterile at the edges). There are also dioecious species.

Application

Compositae matter in different types human activities.

• The medicine . Chamomile, yarrow, arnica, coltsfoot, tansy are used to treat gastrointestinal disorders, inflammation of the skin and respiratory tract.
• landscape design . Because of the bright appearance, the plants are used to decorate flower beds. Grow asters, dahlias, daisies, marigolds, marigolds.
• Agriculture . cultivated plants are used for food. Oil is prepared from sunflower seeds, surrogate coffee from chicory, a sugar substitute from stevia, and Tarragon drink from tarragon. One of the types vegetable crop Compositae is lettuce or lettuce.

No matter how much we say that we are not competing with our neighbors, we still want our flowerbed to be at least as good. If it's worse, something needs to be changed. In the reconstruction of a flower garden, it is easiest to rely on plants from the Aster family (Aster is a star in Latin). Below we will talk about some representatives of this botanical community, and you will decide for yourself what color spot to create under your windows - purple, yellow, blue or something else. At the same time, we’ll tell you which plants to decorate a flower garden in the shade, and which ones in the sun, if with this article in your hands you don’t beat your neighbors in the flower garden competition, then you really don’t strive to win.

Describing aster flowers in garden publications is a real punishment for a botanist. The fact is that these are not flowers, but inflorescences. What a normal person considers a petal is, in fact, a flower (reed or pseudo-reed, depending on the structure), the fluffy middle of the flower is a cluster of tubular flowers. But reluctantly I will try to be understandable, although I will twist against the truth.

Astrovye - helenium

I will start my story with Helenium hoop (Helenium hoopesij). Many of you are familiar with his close relative helenium autumn - a bright plant that blooms at the end of summer. Compared to it, Helenium Hupa can be considered almost small, because it does not exceed 80 cm in height. And in general, you can’t confuse them very much. For example, the leaves of this species are large, up to 50-60 cm long.

But most importantly, it blooms much earlier - in June-July for 40 days. In one place, the Hula gelenium can grow up to 7-8 years, then the plant must be divided, as aging bushes lose their decorative effect. You can divide this species both in spring and autumn. The plant reproduces well and seeds (unlike varieties helenium autumn, which do not save external signs during transfer). The best place for it in the garden is sunny areas with rich, loose and moderately moist soils.

Aster family - echinacea

Echinacea purpurea (Echinacea purpurea)- from personal perennial. And still comes across another name - purple rudbeckia, although it has officially become obsolete for a couple of hundred years. By the way, in translation from Latin, the word “echinacea” means “prickly”, this is due to the fact that the middle of the echinacea flower is prickly, like a disturbed, curled up hedgehog.

Echinacea purple has pale purple petals and a reddish-brown center. Echinacea blooms for a long time - from mid-July to September.

Even bushes of wild echinacea, due to numerous stems up to 100 cm high with rather large (up to 12 cm in diameter) flowers, look very dignified. However, now the "wild" is practically not grown, tempted by varieties that are superior to the original appearance and shape, and new colors up to orange and even yellow. And you won’t surprise anyone with white for a long time. So, very interesting, quite old, but time-tested white variety White Swan, in Russian translation it sounds like " White Swan". Of the more modern white-flowered varieties, it should be noted White Luster, forming a powerful bush up to 120 cm high.

Of the pink-flowered varieties, mention should be made of light pink Lilliput- the name itself speaks of its height, it is quite small and reaches only 45 cm. Terry is also interesting variety Razmatazz (Razzmatazz) with large terry inflorescences with a diameter of 12 cm at a plant height of about 75 cm.

AT last years original varieties appeared, completely different in color scheme from the standard pinks and whites. So, varieties with orange and yellow reed flowers appeared. There are also variegated ones, in which the color of the reed flowers is two-tone, for example, yellow with an orange-red honey agaric. All new varieties have a complex hybrid origin from various kinds echinacea.

Species Echinacea and the very first varieties (with pink or white simple baskets) are quite unpretentious, they prefer lighted areas with moderately moist rich garden soils. But still they do not differ in longevity. If young plants are very resistant, then over time, a large powerful bush can take and leave without a trace in one beautiful winter without declaring war. That is why it is not worth delaying with transplanting and dividing, at least once every 4-5 years this operation must be carried out, otherwise you may simply lose the plant.

But with modern varieties, the situation is completely different. They are much more capricious, in snowless winters they can freeze, but in warm winters get wet or prop up. Yes, and their lifespan is much lower. My advice is that if you want to keep the variety you like, be sure to divide the plant into small pieces every year in the spring (late May or early June). If the plant has not overwintered well and it is difficult to get a part with roots from what is left, remove the cuttings. Echinacea is well propagated by cuttings. The cutting with a part of the rhizome is optimal. It must be planted under a glass jar in a semi-shady place and watered regularly, making sure that the earth does not dry out. And new rooted plants can be planted for growing in three weeks.

Echinacea can be used both in various flower beds, and in separate groups against the backdrop of a lawn. Some varieties can also be used as a cut flower.

Asteraceae - heliopsis

To fill the flower garden with a warm yellow hue, start in your garden heliopsis rough (Heliopsis scabra). It's bright solar plant. That is why it received such a scientific name, which in Latin means "similar to the sun." Heliopsis is a perennial herbaceous plant that is resistant to conditions middle lane Russia. It is quite high, up to 1.5 m, and eventually forms a thicket. The specific name of heliopsis rough is due to the fact that its leaves are covered with small bristles, rough to the touch. Heliopsis petals are yellow or orange, and the center is yellow or brown. The flowers themselves are quite large, and depending on the variety, they can be non-double (or simple), semi-double and double. Heliopsis blooms profusely and continuously from the second half of June until autumn. The culture is unpretentious, but does not tolerate excessively wet soils. Heliopsis grows well and blooms only in sunny areas. Since the plant grows rather quickly, once every 3-4 years, overgrown bushes need to be divided. When planting, the distance between plants should be at least 40-50 cm.

Now there are a number of interesting varieties.

Goldfieder (Goldgefieder)- Terry flowers, golden yellow. Blooms profusely in July-August. Plant height up to 140 cm.

Noen Hybriden (Neue Hybriden)- simple, yellow flowers. Blooms in July-August. Plant height about 140 cm.

Another great variety Asahi, its bright dense yellow-orange flowers are not too large, but there are a lot of them, and the bush itself is quite compact.

Among the varieties of heliopsis there are also variegated ones, with bright white or pink-white spots occupying most of the leaf, but they are less stable, and their flowers are much smaller.

Asteraceae family - coreopsis

The same bright plant is the large-flowered coreopsis (Coreopsis grandiflora). It will decorate any composition in your garden, the only pity is that this plant is short-lived. Depending on the variety, Coreopsis can reach a height of 60-80 cm. In a non-flowering state, Coreopsis is hardly noticeable, because its thin dissected leaves are lost against the background of other plants. But from June to autumn, coreopsis is completely strewn with bright yellow flowers.

At Coreopsis lanceolate (Coreopsis lanceolata) elongated lanceolate leaves. Plants are more compact, 50-60 cm high. Particularly spectacular terry varieties. Yes, at Early Sunrise (Early Sunrise) golden yellow terry baskets decorating the garden from the second half of June to August.

All coreopsis are plants in sunny areas with loose, moderately moist soils. The easiest way to propagate coreopsis is by seed, although young plants can be tasted and divided. Since coreopsis ages quickly, be sure to repot young plants regularly.

Aster family - gaillardia

Well, if yellow color it’s not enough for you, add yellow-orange-red shades to the garden palette Gaillardia grandiflora (Gaiflardia grandiflora). Gaillardia reaches a height of 30-70 cm. Numerous, rather large baskets appear against the background of oblong leaves in the second half of June and until September. The petals can be yellow, red, orange, or variegated in various color combinations, and the center has a red-brown hue. Gaillardia, like coreopsis, is a minor plant, usually losing its decorative effect and dying off in the 4-5th year. Fortunately, it reproduces well by seeds. Gaillardia can also be propagated vegetatively by dividing the bush. In order for the plant to remain decorative, it must be regularly divided and replanted every 3-4 years. It needs sunny areas with moderately moist fertile soils.

Astrovye - navel flower

Dye umbilical (Anthemistinctoria)- a fairly compact (up to 30-60 cm high) plant for the garden. Its openwork, thinly cut dark green leaves, which persist in winter, are very, very elegant. Well, numerous bright yellow medium-sized baskets that appear in July-September adorn this plant even more. Pupavka is a juvenile plant, but it reproduces well by seeds and gives abundant self-sowing, and such that, under favorable conditions, it can turn into a weed. In addition to seeds, it can also be propagated vegetatively by division. The best place for it are sunny dry areas.

Anafalis from the Asteraceae family

Beautiful in the flower garden pearl anafalis (Anaphalis margantacea)- a compact plant 30 cm high. The whole plant is silver-white and fluffy.

Its narrow oblong leaves are densely pubescent, but numerous small snow-white baskets are most spectacular.

Anafalis blooms very abundantly and for a long time - from July to September.

Propagated by both seeds and division of overgrown bushes. The poorer and drier the soil, the better for this plant, and of course, do not forget to choose the most lighted place in the garden for it.

yarrow

And of course, we must not forget about common yarrow (Achillea millefolium). Let natural look quite dim and its white or pale pink corymbose inflorescences look rather modest, but it blooms for a long time - from June to autumn, and it is closer to autumn, when there is already little flowering plants, you can appreciate it. However, why now think about natural forms, when there are many the brightest varieties- bright red, dark crimson, cherry ... A hybrid varieties adopted yellow and orange colors in their palette.

There are more spectacular view yarrow - meadowsweet yarrow (Achillea filipendulina). This species reaches a height of 70-130 cm. Compound pinnate gray-green pubescent leaves with a strong balsamic smell adorn the garden from spring to autumn. But keep in mind that such coloring of foliage is possible only on poor, dry soils. If the soil is rich and sufficiently moist, then the foliage will turn green. From July to the end of August, numerous small yellow capillaries appear, collected in large corymbs.

Yarrows - undemanding plants loving bright sun and poor dry soils. They reproduce both by dividing the bush and by seeds (there are very decent color mixtures on sale). By the way, all yarrows are excellent plants for winter bouquets, because when dried, their inflorescences retain their color and shape.

small-flowered

If you are a lover of rich colors and lush flowering, then be sure to plant beautiful small-flowered (Erygeron speciosus). Its blue and purple, pink, less often white inflorescences-branches, appearing in the second half of June - July, are so numerous that the leaves are completely invisible because of them. Over time, growing, the small-flowered forms dense curtains, up to 60-80 cm high. Large groups consisting of varieties of different colors look especially beautiful. Scatter these groups throughout the garden and they will create bright accents. The small-scale has many varieties, most often we can find only a few of them on sale:

• Azure Beauty with bright lilac semi-double flowers;
• Lady Hindlip Mii (Lady Hindlip)- semi-double pink flowers;
• Sommernee (Sommerneuschnee)- white flowers with a pink tint.

Do not forget to regularly, once every 3-4 years, divide the overgrown bushes, and then this plant will delight you long years. Well, to make the flowering more abundant, plant a small-sized petal on sunny area with rich and moderately moist soils, and of course, do not forget about top dressing.

Sylphium

Among the large plants that bloom in July-August. worth talking about Silphium perfoliatum (Silphium perfoliatum), a plant rarely found in cultivation. It is absolutely resistant to the conditions of central Russia. Over time, it forms a large curtain up to 200 cm high. sylphium impaled entire, ovoid in shape, with wavy serrated edges. And yet golden flowers are its main decoration.

Sylphium is extremely durable and unpretentious, although it works best on rich and fairly moist soils. It can grow both in the sun and in partial shade. Although in partial shade the bushes are more compact, and flowering becomes less plentiful. Since the plant is tall, the best place for him in the flower garden - the background of the composition. By the way, it can be an excellent screen for decorating unattractive parts of the garden. In addition, this is a great way to isolate yourself from your neighbors, if you have. of course, there is such a desire.

Elecampane is also from the Aster family

Yellow color will add to the garden elecampane high (Inula helenium). This is a large plant, sometimes exceeding 250 cm. Elecampane is not only decorative, but also has medicinal properties. This species is most decorative from the end of June, when bright yellow inflorescences-baskets appear against the background of large oval leaves. At the time of flowering, elecampane is an excellent accent in the garden.

If this species is too big for you, get its opposite - elecampane (Inula salicina), only 30-60 cm high. This is a completely ordinary meadow plant.

Unlike its large counterpart, elecampane willow is good in mass. This species blooms a little later - from July to August. But on the other hand, at the time of its flowering, the whole meadow is buried in bright yellow, numerous, though not very large, baskets. So for compositions in the now fashionable natural style, this is simply an indispensable plant.

Elecampane can grow both in the sun and in light partial shade. Elecampane soils are quite unpretentious, but the maximum decorative effect possible only on fertile ones. loose and moderately moist soils. There are no problems with the propagation of this plant - it can be propagated both by seeds and vegetatively - by dividing overgrown bushes. By the way, if you do not remove faded inflorescences, then elecampane can give abundant self-seeding.

Family Compositae, or Asteraceae (composites,Asteraceae) — includes 11-13 families, about 1000 genera and more than 28000 species, widely distributed throughout the globe. Most Compositae - herbaceous plants, but among them there are also many semi-shrubs, shrubs, low trees are less common.

Structure

The leaves of Asteraceae are simple, entire or variously dissected, without stipules, and are arranged alternately in most species. Some species have lactifers or resin canals in the roots, stems and leaves. Flowers small, collected in inflorescence basket, surrounded by a wrapper of modified upper leaves. The main functions of the wrapper are to protect the flowers from the adverse effects of the environment. The calyx is strongly modified into a tuft or tuft, which contributes to the spread of fruits. Corolla joint-petal tubular, reed, pseudo-reed, two-lipped or funnel-shaped (Fig. 121).

Tubular flowers are bisexual, regular, their corolla is formed by 5 petals fused in the form of a tube. Reed flowers consist of 5 petals fused in one plane, noticeable by the teeth. These flowers are bisexual and often completely form inflorescences. In pseudolingual flowers, the lower lip of 3 fused petals ends with 3 teeth and looks like a tongue, and the upper lip is reduced. False-lingual flowers are most often located along the edge of the inflorescence, and tubular in the center (chamomile, sunflower). The funnel-shaped flowers are zygomorphic and asexual, usually marginal in the inflorescence ( cornflower). There are 5 stamens in the Asteraceae flower, they are attached to the corolla tube, the filaments are free, and the anthers are glued together. Gynoecium of two carpels, the style ends with a two-lobed stigma. Lower tie. The fruit is a seed. Seeds without endosperm.

Classification

The Asteraceae family is divided into two subfamilies: Aster (Asteroideae), which includes 11 - 12 tribes and Lettuce (Lactucoidae), or Chicory (Cichorioideae), which include only one tribe. material from the site

Representatives

Subfamily Asteraceae characterized by the obligatory presence of tubular, or less often two-lipped flowers in the baskets and the absence of milky juice. It includes tribes: Sunflower (Heliantheatae), Asteraceae (Astereae), Umbilical (Anthemideae), Cruciformes (Senecioneae), Calendula (calenduleae) and etc.

At subfamily Chicoryaceae or Lettuce all the flowers in the basket are reed, and it is also characterized by the presence of lactiferous passages in the roots, stems and leaves. Representatives of this subfamily grow mainly in the Northern Hemisphere.

The Compositae family belongs to the class dicot plants, is one of the largest, includes more than 30 thousand species. Differently given family called aster. Mostly Compositae are herbs; trees and shrubs are rare. Typical representatives Compositae families in our area are asters, dandelion, chamomile, sunflower, dahlias. Among the Compositae there are not so many plants of economic importance (sunflower, Jerusalem artichoke). However, there are many plants that have decorative (dahlias, asters) and medicinal value (chamomile, chicory).

A characteristic feature of Compositae is the presence basket inflorescences. This inflorescence is often mistaken for a single flower. In fact, individual flowers of Compositae are small. In the basket, they sit close to each other on a common overgrown relatively flat receptacle. FROM outside the basket is usually surrounded by a wrapper of leaves, this wrapper performs a protective function.

Flowers in the same inflorescence may have same structure, and there may be two different types. It depends on the type Compositae. More often than others, reed, tubular, funnel-shaped flowers are found.

In a typical flower of the Compositae family (namely little flower, and not inflorescences) double perianth, however, the sepals of the calyx are reduced or modified into bristles or hairs forming a tuft. The corolla consists of five petals fused into a tube. Five stamens grow together around the style with their anthers. One pistil, one ovule inside the ovary. The achene develops from the ovary.

The types of flowers included in the inflorescence are distinguished mainly by the structure of their corolla. At reed flowers the lower part of the petals grows together into a tube, and the upper part grows together into a kind of tongue located on one side of the flower. That is, the flower does not have radial symmetry. Reed flowers consist, for example, of a dandelion basket. It has a bilobed stigma. The calyx petals are modified into hairs. From such flowers, the fruits of the achene with a bundle of hairs (fly) develop.

Unlike lingual, tubular flowers have radial symmetry. The lower parts of their petals grow together into a tube, while the upper parts do not grow together. Such flowers are in the baskets of the wild oatmeal. Its fruits are achenes with a tuft, also spread by the wind, like dandelion flying fruits.

Many members of the family have two types of composite flowers in a basket. For example, a blue cornflower has tubular flowers in the center of the basket, growing along the edge of the basket funnel-shaped flowers. The corolla of funnel-shaped flowers is similar to the corolla of tubular flowers, but the petals are larger on one side. Therefore, the flower does not have radial symmetry, it looks like a slightly twisted funnel. In the field cornflower, the funnel-shaped flowers in the inflorescence are larger and serve only to attract insects. They have neither stamens nor pistils.

Members of the Compositae family

Chamomile officinalis is an annual plant. There are two types of flowers in the basket: tubular yellow in the middle, reed white at the edges. Medicinal property have young baskets. They have many useful various diseases human essential oils.

Cornflower meadow has purple, not blue flowers. However, like other cornflowers, tubular flowers are in the center of the basket, and funnel-shaped along the edges.

At tansy small baskets of tubular flowers are collected in complex inflorescences.

Sunflower is a valuable economic crop. it annual plant, which has a huge inflorescence-basket, covered with wrapper leaves from below. The number of flowers in a basket can reach 1000. In the middle there are tubular flowers, along the edge there are bright yellow asexual reeds that attract insects.

The sunflower fruit is an achene with a dense pericarp.

The sunflower was brought to Europe from Mexico in the 16th century. Its economic value was discovered much later. Sunflower seeds contain a lot of oils (like the seeds of most Compositae), which are used as food, livestock feed, varnishes and even soaps.