The plant family Asteraceae: 5. Classification and the subfamily Cichorioideae

Abstract

The classification of the plant family Asteraceae is discussed. The family belongs to the division Spermatophyta (Magnoliophyta), subdivision Angiospermae, class Dicotyledoneae (Magnoliopsida), subclass Asteridae, superorder Asteranae and the order Asterales and is divided into three subfamilies: the Barnadesioideae (not in Flora of southern Africa region), the Cichorioideae and the Asteriodeae. The subfamily Cichorioideae is further divided into eight tribes of which one (Liabeae) does not occur in southern Africa and one genus (Corymbium) is not assigned to a tribe. The subfamily Asteriodeae is divided into 10 tribes. The subfamily Cichorioideae and its tribes are more fully described in this article. The genera belonging to these tribes are listed and their distribution given.