Asteraceae / Asteroideae: The Aster Family / Aster Subfamily.

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Asteraceae / Asteroideae
The Aster Subfamily of the Aster Family

      The Aster subfamily consists of numerous tribes, some with species radically different from others in the subfamily. Note that thistles and artichokes were reclassified from a tribe to a separate subfamily of their own.

      The Chamomile tribe includes the most aromatic members of the Aster family, such as sagebrush, yarrow, tansy, and of course, chamomile. As a kid I encountered many different species of sage (Artemisia). There are 19 species just in Montana. But without a patterns approach to go by, I didn't have a clue where to start, so I brought each specimen to the university herbarium for identification. These days, when I see a new fuzzy green-gray plant, I immediately crush a leaf and smell it to test for a sage-type smell. Each species smells different, but there is a common pattern to the smell that is undeniably sage-like.

      I also test for members of the Sunflower tribe by smell. Most species are resinous, much like pines, useful medicinally for their expectorant properties. Crush up the head of a sunflower and smell it to get a sense of the resin odor. Once you learn the patterns of smell from the various families, subfamilies and tribes, you will be able to accurately identify many new plants with just your nose.

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Everlasting Tribe
Notice how the flowerheads of each plant are wrapped in layers of colorful, papery bracts.

Antennaria sp. Pussytoes.	Foraging the Mountain West
Anaphalis margaritacea. Pearly Everlasting.	Anaphalis margaritacea. Pearly Everlasting.

Elecampane Tribe
The Elecampane tribe includes Old World plants, only a few of which have been introduced to North America.

Elecampane: Inula helenium.

Elecampane: Inula helenium. Photographed in Sweden.

Chamomile Tribe
Most plants of this tribe are powerfully aromatic.

Artemisia tridentata. Big Sagebrush.	Artemisia tridentata. Big Sagebrush.
Artemisia tridentata. Big Sagebrush.	Artemisia frigida. Fringed Sagewort.
Artemisia cana. Silver Sagebrush.	Foraging the Mountain West
Common Mugwort or Wormwood: Artemisia vulgaris.	Common Mugwort or Wormwood: Artemisia vulgaris.
Tanacetum vulgare. Common Tansy. Photographed in Sweden.	Tanacetum vulgare. Common Tansy. Tansy is an imported invasive weed from Eurasia. For more information go to Tansy ecology and control..
Matricaria matricarioides. Pineapple Weed	Matricaria maritima. Scentless Chamomile. Rexburg, Idaho.
Achillea millefolium. Yarrow.	Achillea millefolium. Yarrow.
Achillea millefolium. Yarrow.	Achillea millefolium. Yarrow. The young, pink roots numb the tip of the tongue when chewed.
Leucanthemum vulgare. (Same as Chrysanthemum leucanthemum.) Oxeye Daisy. Oxeye Daisy is an imported invasive weed from Eurasia. For more information go to Oxeye Daisy ecology and control..	Foraging the Mountain West

Boneset Tribe

Brickellia eupatorioides.False boneset.	Brickellia eupatorioides. False boneset. Close-up.
Liatris punctata. Dotted Gayfeather.	Liatris punctata. Dotted Gayfeather. Close-up.

Groundsel Tribe
These members of the Aster Family are distinguished by the especially soft and abundant pappus hairs within the flowerheads. Arnica was traditionally classified as a member of the Groundsel tribe, but it has been reclassified as part of the Sunflower tribe based on genetic evidence.

Petasites frigidus. Arctic Sweet Coltsfoot.	Petasites frigidus. Arctic Sweet Coltsfoot. Photographed near Twisp, Washington.
Senecio sp. Groundsel	Senecio sp. Groundsel.
Senecio triangularis. Arrow-leaved Groundsel.	Senecio triangularis. Groundsel with moth, used with permission of Mountain Escapes Photography

-Also see these additional members of the Groundsel Tribe-

Senecio sp. Groundsel. Photographed along the northern California coast.

Senecio sp. Groundsel. Chatfield State Park. Denver, Colorado.

Senecio salignus. Willow Groundsel. Flowers give off a rotting smell to attract flies for pollination. Sonora Desert Museum. Tuscon, Arizona.

Senecio salignus. Willow Groundsel. Close-up.

Sunflower Tribe
Many plants of the Sunflower Tribe have a distinctively resinous odor. Arnica is an exception. It was traditionally classified as a member of the Groundsel tribe, but it has been reclassified as part of the Sunflower tribe based on genetic evidence.

Arnica cordifolia. Heart-Leaved Arnica.	Arnica angustifolia. Alpine Arnica.
Balsamorhiza sagittata. Arrowleaf Balsamroot.	Balsamorhiza sagittata. Arrowleaf Balsamroot.
Balsamorhiza hookeri. Hooker's Balsamroot.	Balsamorhiza hookeri. Hooker's Balsamroot.
Helianthus annuus. Wild Sunflower.	Helianthus tuberosus. Jerusalem artichoke. Cultivated in our yard.
Helianthus nuttallii. Nuttall's Sunflower.	Helianthus nuttallii. Nuttall's Sunflower. Perennial.
Ratibida columnifera. Prairie Coneflower.	Ratibida columnifera. Prairie Coneflower.
Rudbeckia occidentalis. Western Rayless Coneflower. Photographed in the Bridger Mountains, near Bozeman, Montana.	Rudbeckia occidentalis. Western Rayless Coneflower.
Rudbeckia hirta. Blackeyed Susan.	Rudbeckia laciniata. Cutleaf Coneflower.

Brown-Eyed Susan: Rudbeckia triloba. Brown-Eyed Susan is native to the Great Plains of North America.

Echinacea angustifolia. Narrow-leaved Purple Coneflower.

Purple Coneflower: Echinacea purpurea.	Purple Coneflower: Echinacea purpurea. Purple Coneflower is native to the Great Plains of North America, this one photographed in a garden in Sweden.
Madia gracilis. Slender Tarweed. Photographed near Twisp, Washington.	Madia gracilis. Slender Tarweed. Photographed near Kettle Falls, Washington.
Enceliopsis argophylla. Silverleaf Sunray. Photographed at Lake Mead National Recreation Area.	Coreopsis tinctoria. Golden Tickseed. Planted as a roadside flower near Boulder, Montana.
Wyethia helianthoides. Mule's Ears.	Wyethia helianthoides. Mule's Ears.
Wyethia amplexicaulis. Mule's Ears.	Foraging the Mountain West
Bidens cernua. Nodding Beggartick.	Bidens tripartita. Threelobe Beggarticks.

Ragweeds
(Now included within the Sunflower Tribe)
These are green-globby flowers that might resemble the Goosefoot family at first glance.

Iva xanthifolia. Giant sumpweed. It is often found growing in or around livestock pens.	Foraging the Mountain West
Xanthium strumarium. Cocklebur. Grows along many western rivers.	Xanthium strumarium. Cocklebur. The burrs cling to clothing, fur, and bare feet.

-Also see these additional members of the Sunflower Tribe-

Rudbeckia laciniata. Cut-leaf Coneflower. Photographed along Montana's Smith River.

Encelia farinosa. Brittlebush. Sonora Desert Museum. Tuscon, Arizona.

Encelia farinosa. Brittlebush. Close-up. The fragrant resin is used as an incense and for glue and waterproofing. The sap doesn't melt in the sun.

Sneezeweed Tribe

Gaillardia aristata. Blanket flower.	Gaillardia aristata. Blanket flower.
Chaenactis alpina. Alpine Dusty Maiden.	Tetraneuris grandiflora. (Formerly known as Hymenoxys grandiflora.) Alpine Sunflower.
Helenium autumnale. Common Sneezeweed.	Helenium autumnale. Common Sneezeweed.

Aster Tribe

Canada goldenrod: Solidago canadensis.	Canada goldenrod: Solidago canadensis. Canada goldenrod is native to eastern and central North America, this one photographed as an introduced plant in Sweden.
Heterotheca villosa. (Formerly known as Chrysopsis villosa.) Golden Aster.	Heterotheca villosa. (Formerly known as Chrysopsis villosa.) Golden Aster.
Grindelia squarrosa. Sticky Gum Plant. Common across the Rocky Mountains.	Grindelia squarrosa. Sticky Gum Plant. Photographed near Rexburg, Idaho.
Aster sp. Asters.	Aster sp. Alpine Aster.
Conyza canadensis. Canadian Horseweed.	Foraging the Mountain West