Composite Flower (Ray
Flower, Disk Flower)
Although it looks
like a single flower, a composite flower is made up of many smaller flowers,
sometimes called florets.
Each yellow “petal”
in this photo is its own ray flower. Each
tiny brown structure in the center is a disk (disc) flower.
Sunflower – photo © Frank Rose, Arizona Desert Museum
Here are drawings of
the individual flowers.
Drawings from Wikimedia Commons
A – Ovary |
A – Ovary |
B – Pappus |
B – Pappus |
C – Anthers |
C – Anthers |
D – Style |
D – Petals |
|
E – Style |
Some composites have
only ray flowers
Woolly Goat Chicory – photo courtesy Doreen Smith
Other composites have
only disk flowers
Common Groundsel – photo courtesy Steve Matson
All the plants in the
Aster Family, including daisies, dandelions and
asters, have composite flowers.
Want more? See Wikipedia.
Corrections/Comments:
bruce@PlantID.net Copyright:
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