Phyllary

Phyllaries are leaf-like structures that form around the base of Aster Family flowers.

Phyllaries are very helpful in plant identification because they’re easy to see and vary quite a bit.

For instance, these pointed, hairy, curling back phyllaries are distinctive:

Bigflower Dandelion – photo courtesy Steve Matson

Phyllaries can be used to distinguish between the Aster group and Fleabane group. Aster phyllaries tend to be disorganized like this:

Shasta Aster – photo courtesy Keir Morse

Fleabane phyllaries are relatively neat and organized:

Silver Fleabane – photo courtesy Steve Matson

Phyllaries are the Aster Family’s version of a bract.

Want more? See Wikipedia.

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