Head (botany)
Encyclopedia
The capitulum is considered the most derived form of inflorescence
. Flower heads found outside Asteraceae
(such as those of Eryngium
or Jasione
) show lesser degrees of specialization.
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
. Flower heads found outside Asteraceae
Asteraceae
The Asteraceae or Compositae , is an exceedingly large and widespread family of vascular plants. The group has more than 22,750 currently accepted species, spread across 1620 genera and 12 subfamilies...
(such as those of Eryngium
Eryngium
Eryngium is a genus in the family Apiaceae of about 230 species of annuals and perennials with hairless and usually spiny leaves, and dome-shaped umbels of flowers resembling those of thistles. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution, with the centre of diversity in South America. Some species...
or Jasione
Jasione
Jasione is a genus of flowering plants within the family Campanulaceae which are native to Europe.Species include:* Jasione amethystina* Jasione bulgarica* Jasione crispa* Jasione echinata* Jasione foliosa...
) show lesser degrees of specialization.