Asteraceae - Daisies
(formerly Compositeae)
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The Asteraceae is the second largest family of flowering plants (Division Magnoliophyta) with over 20,000 species included. The type genus is Aster, typified by daisies with star-shaped flower-heads.
However only a small number of genera have succulent members including Kleinia, Notonia, Othonna, and Senecio. Most succulent species are leaf succulents although there are some stem succulents and caudiciforms. The inflorescence of all Asteraceae characteristically consists of tiny flowers tightly packed into heads known as a capitulum. Very often, a marginal ring of larger petals surrounds the flower head with each marginal floret contributing a petal.
Senecio includes the Ragworts and many species contain toxins known to cause liver damage and hemmoraging of livestock.
Cultivation: Many species of Asteraceae are relatively undemanding in cultivation, although Othonna includes some tricky caudiciforms that should be watered sparingly. Trailing members of Senecio grow well in hanging pots from which the trailing stems hang down.
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Plant Families with Succulent Species 