Compositae Family Characteristics

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• Asteraceae or compositae is a family of plants that contain herbaceous, shrubs and trees. The family characteristics include the composite flowers that are all bracketed to look like one central flower, the actual flowers themselves can be ray or disk and the flowers are pollinated by insects or are self-pollinated. In the NYC area, Sunflowers are an example of this family. Sunflowers are drought tolerant, areas full of sun, and live in both slightly acidic to slightly alkaline soil conditions. Another example is Beggarsticks, it lives I area dry and shady to moist and sunny, seeds are dispersed by animals and it can germinate and live in compacted soil and alongside streams or rivers. • Brassicaceae or Mustard is a family of herbaceous and shrub plants that have a lot of economic value currently. The family characteristics include simple alternate leaves that are cleft or lobed, pollinated by insects or self-pollinated, flowers that have four petals in the shape of a cross. Bitter cress, which likes disturbed moist areas hence it is found in lawns and labeled a weed, is an example of Brassicaceae family. A second example Alliaria or garlic mustard and loves to grow in moist shady areas of disturbed soil. • Asclepiadaceae once a family now the sub family…show more content…
Some common characteristics are that the leaves are alternate and in a single plane. Leaves are projected out of the stem and they have spikelet flowers hence they are wind pollinated. New shoots propagate from rhizomes. The common reed is an example of this grass family. It is a disturbance-adapted plant that could be found in sunny wetland areas and also found in moist areas where drainage has been impeded. Another example is called Smooth Witchgrass, it also is disturbance adapted and likes bare ground. This grass is found in sunny areas with compact soil such as cracks in pavements in an urban

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