Annuals, biennials, perennials, subshrubs, or shrubs [trees, vines] (sap usually milky). Leaves basal and/or cauline; alternate (proximal opposite in Shinnersoseris) [opposite]; petiolate or sessile; margins usually dentate or pinnately lobed (then frequently runcinate), sometimes prickly, sometimes entire, rarely much divided (bases often clasping). Heads homogamous (liguliflorous), usually in corymbiform or paniculiform arrays, sometimes borne singly (on scapiform peduncles), sometimes subsessile in axillary clusters on stems or among leaves of basal rosettes [aggregated in second-order heads]. Calyculi 0 or of 1–15+ bractlets in 1–3+ series. Phyllaries usually persistent, usually in 3–5+ series, distinct, and unequal, sometimes in 1–2 series, distinct or connate, and subequal to equal, margins (seldom prickly) and/or apices sometimes notably scarious (phyllaries sometimes enfold and fall with subtended florets or cypselae, e.g., in Rhagadiolus). Receptacles flat to convex, epaleate (sometimes bristly-setose) or paleate (paleae enfold and fall with subtended cypselae in Scolymus). Florets ligulate (bisexual, fertile); corollas usually yellow to orange, sometimes cyanic or white (zygomorphic, 5-toothed); anther bases usually tailed, apical appendages ovate to lanceolate or hardly developed (pollen sometimes brightly colored); styles abaxially usually papillate to hirsute (mostly distally), branches filiform to stout, adaxially continuously stigmatic from bases almost to apices, apices rounded to acute, appendages essentially 0. Cypselae usually monomorphic within heads, ± clavate, columnar, ellipsoid, fusiform, or prismatic, often compressed, obcompressed, or flattened, often beaked or apically tapered, bodies smooth, muricate, rugose, or tuberculate, often ribbed, sometimes winged (glabrous or hairy); pappi (rarely 0) persistent or readily falling, usually of fine to coarse, often barbellate, sometimes plumose bristles, sometimes of awns or scales, sometimes combinations of bristles, awns, and/or scales (scales often aristate).


Nearly worldwide, mostly in Old World, mostly at temperate latitudes, some species widely


Genera ca. 100, species ca. 1600 (49 genera, 229 species in the flora).

Selected References


1 Cypselae beaked (outer sometimes beakless in Hypochaeris) > 2
1 Cypselae beakless > 26
2 Stems scapiform > 3
2 Stems leafy > 10
3 Heads usually in spiciform, paniculiform, cymiform, or corymbiform arrays (sometimes borne singly) > 4
3 Heads borne singly > 5
4 Leaf margins spiny; calyculi 0; phyllaries in 3–5+ series, unequal; pappi of crisped (frizzy), outer and straight, coarse, inner bristles Launaea
4 Leaf margins not spiny; calyculi of 5–12 bractlets; phyllaries in 1(–2) series, equal; pappi of uniform bristles Crepis
5 Pappi of outer scales and inner bristles, or of aristate scales > 6
5 Pappi of bristles > 7
6 Cypsela beaks relatively long or 0; pappi of outer scales and inner, plumose bristles; annuals or perennials; leaves oblanceolate to oblong Leontodon
6 Cypsela beaks relatively short; pappi of lanceolate, apically notched, aristate scales, aristae smooth; annuals; leaves linear to narrowly lanceolate, grasslike Uropappus
7 Receptacles paleate; corollas pink, purple, lavender, or nearly white; perennials Pinaropappus
7 Receptacles usually epaleate (if paleate, corollas yellow; some Agoseris); corollas usually yellow to orange, rarely ochroleucous, pink, pinkish, purplish, or white; annuals, biennials, or perennials > 8
8 Calyculi of (6–)8–18(–20) bractlets in 1–3 series; phyllaries equal; perennials Taraxacum
8 Calyculi 0; phyllaries equal or unequal; annuals, biennials, or perennials > 9
9 Leaves entire, toothed, or pinnately lobed (not spiny); heads borne singly; corollas yellow, orange, pinkish, purplish, or white; pappi of ± barbellate bristles; annuals or perennials Agoseris
9 Leaves often pinnately lobed, ultimate margins dentate (spiny); heads borne singly or in spiciform or paniculiform arrays; corollas yellow to ochroleucous; pappi of crisped (frizzy), outer and straight, coarse, inner bristles; annuals or biennials Launaea
10 Pappi of plumose bristles or subulate scales; annuals or biennials > 11
10 Pappi of smooth or barbellate bristles, or of subulate scales or awns, or of aristate scales; annuals, biennials, or perennials > 13
11 Corollas white, sometimes abaxially rose- or purple-veined; calyculi of spreading to reflexed, unequal bractlets; annuals Rafinesquia
11 Corollas yellow, orange, purple, or pinkish to purplish; calyculi 0; annuals or biennials > 12
12 Leaves linear to lance-linear or lance-attenuate, entire; peduncles inflated distally; involucres campanulate; pappi of subulate scales; biennials (winter annuals); heads borne singly; corollas yellow or purple Tragopogon
12 Leaves mostly obovate to oblong-obovate, the distal ovate to linear, usually pinnately lobed, sometimes dentate or entire; peduncles little, if at all, inflated distally; involucres urceolate; pappi of bristles; annuals; heads borne singly or in corymbiform arrays; corollas yellow, sometimes abaxially striped with red. Urospermum
13 Perennials > 14
13 Annuals or biennials > 18
14 Involucres narrowly cylindric, 1–2+ mm diam.; phyllaries (4–)5; florets 5; cypselae obovoid to lanceoloid Mycelis
14 Involucres cylindric to campanulate, 2–5 mm diam.; phyllaries 5–21; florets 6–150+; cypselae cylindric to fusiform or lanceoloid > 15
15 Corollas usually bluish; cypselae lanceoloid Mulgedium
15 Corollas yellow to white; cypselae cylindric to fusiform > 16
16 Phyllaries 8–21+; pappi: outer crowns of spreading, white hairs plus 2–3+ inner series of rufous to stramineous bristles Pyrrhopappus
16 Phyllaries 5–10; pappi of white bristles > 17
17 Calyculi of 3–4, minute bractlets; involucres cylindric; cypselae cylindric, 5+-ribbed (without rings of scales); pappi of 40–50+ bristles Chondrilla
17 Calyculi of 3–10+, deltate to lanceolate bractlets; involucres campanulate to cylindric; cypselae fusiform, 10-ribbed or -winged (with rings of scales at bases of beaks); pappi of 20–30 bristles Ixeris
18 Peduncles inflated distally (fistulose); pappi of aristate scales Uropappus
18 Peduncles not inflated distally; pappi of bristles or subulate scales (not aristate) > 19
19 Receptacles paleate; outer cypselae beakless; all or inner pappus bristles plumose. Hypochaeris
19 Receptacles epaleate; all cypselae beaked; pappus bristles usually barbellulate or smooth (sometimes plumose in Helminthotheca) > 20
20 Calyculi 0; leaves spiny Launaea
20 Calyculi of 2–16 bractlets; leaves not spiny > 21
21 Cypselae dimorphic, outer gibbous, inner ellipsoid to fusiform, not ribbed (rugulose); pappi of subulate to setiform scales Helminthotheca
21 Cypselae monomorphic, ellipsoid, oblong, obovoid, or lanceoloid, or cylindric to fusiform, ribbed; pappi of bristles (sometimes with minute outer crowns as well) > 22
22 Cypselae ellipsoid to oblong or obovoid to lanceoloid; pappi of minute outer crowns plus inner bristles (sometimes 2–3+ series of bristles in Lactuca) > 23
22 Cypselae fusiform, not or little compressed; pappi of bristles > 24
23 Involucres narrowly cylindric, 1–2+ mm diam.; calyculi of 2–4 bractlets in 1 series Mycelis
23 Involucres campanulate to cylindric, 2–5 mm diam.; calyculi of 3– 10+ bractlets in 2–3 series Lactuca
24 Stems dotted with tack-glands; pappus bristles basally connate (fall- ing in rings), white Calycoseris
24 Stems eglandular or glandular (without tack-glands); pappus bristles distinct or inner basally connate, white to tawny > 25
25 Heads usually in cymiform, corymbiform, or paniculiform arrays, sometimes borne singly; corollas usually yellow or orange, sometimes white, pink, or reddish; cypselae 10–20- ribbed Crepis
25 Heads borne singly; corollas white to pale yellow; cypselae 4– 5-angled or -ribbed (angles roughened) Glyptopleura
26 Stems scapiform > 27
26 Stems leafy > 42
27 Pappi 0 or coroniform > 28
27 Pappi of bristles and/or scales, or of aristate scales > 31
28 Perennials; leaves (± fleshy) linear to oblanceolate, margins entire; calyculi 0. Phalacroseris
28 Annuals or biennials; leaves obovate or oblanceolate to spatulate, margins ± dentate or lobed; calyculi of 1–10+ bractlets or 0 > 29
29 Leaf margins pinnately lobed; cypselae oblong, 10–13-ribbed Lapsanastrum
29 Leaf margins ± dentate to toothed; cypselae obovoid or subcylindric to weakly clavate, 4–5- or 8–10-ribbed > 30
30 Leaves oblanceolate to spatulate; heads borne singly or 2–3; peduncles naked, inflated distally; involucres broadly campanulate to urceolate; phyllaries basally connate; cypselae obovoid, 8–10-ribbed Arnoseris
30 Leaves obovate; heads in corymbiform arrays; peduncles sometimes bracteate, not inflated distally; involucres cylindro-campanulate; phyllaries distinct; cypselae subcylindric or weakly clavate, 4–5-ribbed (ribs corky) Atrichoseris
31 Heads usually in corymbiform, paniculiform, or cymiform arrays; calyculi of 3–12 bractlets > 32
31 Heads usually borne singly (sometimes in spiciform or paniculiform arrays in Launaea); calyculi 0 > 33
32 Leaves entire or dentate to pinnatifid (often lyrate or runcinate); cypselae 10– 20-ribbed; pappi of usually distinct, white to tawny bristles Crepis
32 Leaves pinnately lobed (lyrate); cypselae 11–13-ribbed (ribs spiculate); pappi of basally connate, white bristles Youngia
33 Pappi of subulate or aristate scales > 34
33 Pappi wholly or partly of bristles (in Leontodon, pappi of outer cypselae of scales, of inner cypselae of bristles; sometimes scales + bristles in Krigia) > 36
34 Heads erect; cypselae narrowed distally; pappi of lustrous, white subulate or aristate scales (bodies narrowly lanceolate to subulate) Nothocalaïs
34 Heads nodding (at least in bud); cypsela apices truncate; pappus scales silvery to yellowish, brownish, or blackish (rarely white), plumose, barbellate, or barbellulate > 35
35 Involucres fusiform to ovoid or globose; pappi of deltate, lanceolate, linear, oblong, orbiculate, or ovate aristate scales, aristae plumose, barbellate, or barbellulate Microseris
35 Involucres campanulate; pappi of narrowly lanceolate aristate scales, aristae barbellulate Stebbinsoseris
36 Pappi of outer cypselae of scales, of inner cypselae of plumose bristles Leontodon
36 Pappi of bristles or of outer scales plus inner bristles > 37
37 Phyllary margins papery (wider than midribs); receptacles paleate; pappus bristles plumose Anisocoma
37 Phyllary margins not papery; receptacles usually epaleate (sometimes paleate in Agoseris); pappus bristles mostly smooth, barbellulate, or ± barbellate > 38
38 Leaves spiny; corollas yellow to ochroleucous; pappi of crisped (frizzy), outer and coarse, straight, inner bristles Launaea
38 Leaves not spiny; corollas usually yellow to orange, sometimes pink, purple, or red; pappi of ± barbellate bristles > 39
39 Phyllaries in 1–2 series; cypselae 10–20-nerved or -ribbed; pappi of 5 outer scales plus 5–45 inner bristles Krigia
39 Phyllaries in 2–5(–7) series; cypselae 8–10(–15)-ribbed; pappi of bristles in 1–6 series > 40
40 Phyllaries hairy or glabrous; cypselae usually beaked (6– 31 mm) Agoseris
40 Phyllaries usually glabrous; cypselae not beaked (5–10 mm) > 41
41 Plants taprooted; pappi of 30–80, whitish bristles Nothocalaïs
41 Plants rhizomatous (usually in bogs); pappi of 24–48, brownish bristles Microseris
42 Pappi 0, or of scales or aristate scales, or of awns plus bristles, or coroniform > 43
42 Pappi wholly or mostly of bristles (sometimes with minute outer scales) > 54
43 Pappi 0 > 44
43 Pappi of scales or aristate scales, or of awns or subulate scales plus bristles, or coroniform > 47
44 Stems winged, wings spiny; receptacles paleate Scolymus
44 Stems not winged; receptacles epaleate > 45
45 Heads borne singly; florets 5–35; cypselae ± monomorphic (1.3–1.7 mm). Krigia
45 Heads in corymbiform or thyrsiform arrays; florets 5–15; cypselae heteromorphic (3–25 mm, outer longer than inner) > 46
46 Leaves ovate to suborbiculate, coarsely dentate; heads in corymbiform to thyrsiform arrays; cypselae subcylindric (curved), terete to slightly compressed, ± 20-ribbed Lapsana
46 Leaves ovate-lanceolate to linear, entire or dentate to pinnately lobed; heads in ± corymbiform arrays; cypselae ± terete (outer straight or arcuate, inner straight to coiled), not ribbed Rhagadiolus
47 Corollas usually blue, sometimes pink or white; cypselae prismatic, 3–5-angled; pappi coroniform (erose scales) Cichorium
47 Corollas orange or yellow to white or pink to lavender; cypselae columnar or cylindric to fusiform or obconic, 6–15-ribbed; pappi usually of scales (scales sometimes aristate), sometimes of awns or subulate scales plus bristles, or coroniform (Krigia wrightii, annuals, cypselae 1.3–1.6 mm) > 48
48 Phyllaries enfolding outer cypselae > 49
48 Phyllaries not enfolding outer cypselae > 50
49 Peduncles inflated distally; calyculi of 3–10+, deltate to lanceolate bractlets; phyllaries 5–13+ in 1 series; florets 8–30+; cypselae cylindric to fusiform, 12–15-ribbed; pappi of outer cypselae coroniform (short scales), of inner cypselae of lance-aristate to subulate-aristate scales (0–5+ outer and 5+ inner) Hedypnois
49 Peduncles not inflated distally; calyculi of 8–13, linear to filiform bractlets; phyllaries 20–25+ in 2+ series; florets 30–100+; cypselae columnar, 6–8(–10)-ribbed; pappi of setiform scales plus smooth or barbellate bristles Tolpis
50 Heads ± nodding (at least in bud); pappi of aristate scales > 51
50 Heads erect; pappi of setiform, subulate, or aristate scales or of awns or subulate scales plus bristles > 52
51 Perennials; involucres campanulate, fusiform, ovoid, or globose; pappus scales deltate, lanceolate, linear, oblong, orbiculate, or ovate, aristae plumose, barbellate, or barbellulate Microseris
51 Annuals; involucres campanulate; pappus scales narrowly lanceolate, aristae barbellulate Stebbinsoseris
52 Perennials; leaves linear to linear-lanceolate, entire; corollas pale lavender to white; cypselae 5-angled or -ridged; pappi of awns or subulate scales plus bristles Chaetadelpha
52 Annuals, biennials, or perennials; leaves ovate-lanceolate or oblong to lanceolate or linear, entire or pinnately lobed; corollas white, yellow, or purplish; cypselae sometimes 10-nerved; pappi of setiform, subulate, or aristate scales > 53
53 Leaves oblong or lanceolate to oblanceolate or linear, spiny; involucres campanulate to urceolate; receptacles paleate; corollas yellow; cypselae obovoid, ribs 0; pappi (0 or) of 2–4 setiform to aristate scales plus 0–4 muticous to lanceolate scales. Scolymus
53 Leaves ovate-lanceolate to lanceolate or linear, not spiny; involucres ovoid to cylindric; receptacles epaleate; corollas whitish to yellow or purplish; cypselae columnar to obclavate or fusiform, not compressed, usually 10-nerved; pappi of 28–50+ plumose to barbellate, subulate to setiform scales Scorzonera
54 Shrubs; California Munzothamnus
54 Annuals, biennials, or perennials > 55
55 Corollas yellow, orange, ochroleucous, pinkish to reddish, or white (sometimes abaxially pinkish, reddish, or purplish) > 56
55 Corollas usually purple, lavender, pink, or blue, sometimes white, rarely yellow > 62
56 Leaves spiny (on margins, bases often auriculate); phyllaries in 3–5+ series > 57
56 Leaves not spiny (bases not auriculate); phyllaries in 1–2+, or 2–3, or 4–6 series > 58
57 Involucres 3–5 mm diam.; phyllaries 18–25; cypselae weakly compressed, cylindric to prismatic or fusiform, 4–5-ribbed (or grooved), ribs muricate; pappi of crisped (frizzy, often basally coherent or connate), outer plus straight, coarse, inner bristles Launaea
57 Involucres 5–15+ mm diam.; phyllaries 27–50; cypselae compressed, oblong or oblanceoloid to elliptic, 2–4(–5)-ribbed, smooth, rugose, or tuberculate; pappi of distinct outer bristles plus basally coherent or connate inner bristles Sonchus
58 Calyculi 0 > 59
58 Calyculi usually of 3–16+ bractlets (sometimes intergrading with phyllaries) > 60
59 Heads borne singly; corollas yellow to orange; pappi (usually 2-seriate): outer of 5+ scales, inner of 5–45 bristles Krigia
59 Heads in corymbiform to paniculiform arrays; corollas yellow to white; pappi (1 or 2-seriate): outer pappi 0, or of minute teeth plus 0–6 bristles, inner (or only) pappi of 15–35, basally coherent bristles Malacothrix
60 Perennials; phyllaries in 2+ series; cypselae columnar or prismatic to ± urceolate Hieracium
60 Annuals, biennials, or perennials; phyllaries in 1–2 series; cypselae subcylindric to fusiform > 61
61 Corollas yellow or orange (white, pink, reddish), not abaxially reddish; cypselae 10–20-ribbed, sometimes spiculate; pappi persistent, of distinct bristles Crepis
61 Corollas yellow, often abaxially reddish; cypselae 5–10-ribbed, transversely rugulose; pappi falling, of basally connate bristles Picris
62 Annuals > 63
62 Perennials > 65
63 Pappus bristles distinct, plumose (at least distally) Stephanomeria
63 Pappus bristles basally connate, smooth or barbellulate > 64
64 Stems glandular-puberulent to glabrescent; leaves basal and cauline, blades spatulate to oblanceolate or minute, margins irregularly dentate to runcinate, often spinulose; peduncles minutely bracteate; cypselae columnar (tapering slightly proximally), 5-ribbed Prenanthella
64 Stems glabrous; leaves cauline (opposite proximally), blades linear, margins entire; peduncles ebracteate; cypselae subcylindric (apices abruptly constricted), 10-ribbed Shinnersoseris
65 Heads (usually nodding) in racemiform, thyrsiform, corymbiform, or paniculiform arrays; corollas usually white to pink or lavender, rarely yellow Prenanthes
65 Heads (erect) usually borne singly (sometimes in ± corymbiform to paniculiform arrays); corollas usually bluish, pink to lavender, or rose, rarely white > 66
66 Leaves oblong, elliptic, or ovate to lanceolate or linear; phyllaries 8–13+ in 1–2 series; florets (1–)15–50+; cypselae compressed, lanceoloid Mulgedium
66 Leaves linear to oblong (distal sometimes bractlike or subulate distally); phyllaries 3–10 in ± 1 series; florets 3–16; cypselae not compressed, columnar > 67
67 Stems rigid, spine-tipped (thorny); leaves cauline, entire; phyllaries 3–5; florets 3–5 Pleiacanthus
67 Stems not spine-tipped; leaves basal and cauline, entire, dentate, or pinnately lobed; phyllaries 4–10; florets (4–)5–16 > 68
68 Cypselae subcylindric, subterete, angled, or sulcate; pappus bristles barbellate Lygodesmia
68 Cypselae columnar, 5-angled; pappus bristles (wholly or partly) plumose Stephanomeria

"fine" is not a number.

scarious +
ovate +  and lanceolate +
paniculiform +  and corymbiform +
indeterminate +  and determinate +
Theodore M. Barkley† +, Luc Brouillet +  and John L. Strother +
Lamarck & de Candolle +
decurrent +
compound +  and simple +
tuberculate +, rugose +, muricate +  and smooth +
filiform +
zygomorphic +, actinomorphic +  and (3-)5-merous +
white +, cyanic +, usually yellow +  and orange +
tapered +, beaked +, flattened +, obcompressed +, compressed +, prismatic +, fusiform +, ellipsoid +, columnar +  and clavate +
Nearly worldwide +, mostly in Old World +, mostly at temperate latitudes +  and some species widely +
winged +  and beaked +
dispersed +
indeterminate +
each +  and sessile +
sessile +  and petiolate +
cauline +  and basal +
divided +, lobed +  and dentate +
2-carpellate +
connate +  and distinct +
subequal +  and unequal +
Syn. Pl. Fl. Gall., +
paleate +  and epaleate +
bearing subulate enations +, hairy +  and bristly +
flat;convex +
jansen1991b +, kim1996a +, lee2002a +, lee2003a +, lee2004a +, price1975a +, stebbins1953a +, tomb1974a +  and whitton1995a +
exalbuminous +
prostrate +  and ascending +
appendaged +  and truncate +
papillate +
Undefined tribe Lactuceae +
Asteraceae tribe Cichorieae +
Asteraceae +
perennial +, biennial +  and annual +
shrub +  and subshrub +