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.

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