Composite Flowers     

Composite Flowers (Asteraceae) have many individual flowers inserted on a flatened, broad receptacle so that they appear to be one large flower. Sunflower is the prime example. This family was once called the Compositae.

Sunflowers (Helianthus) have Disk & Ray Flowers!		Diagram of Sunflower in Sectional View
Diagrams of Helianthus Disk Flowers showing their major structures
Model of a Disk Flower:The Spine Like Structures comprise the Calyx and are called the Pappus.	Model of A Ray Flower which also has a Pappus.

Some species like Cichory (Cichorium) have only Ray Flowers			Some species may only have Disk Flowers
A Composite Inflorescence which looks like  one flower.	Disk Flowers at the Center of the Inflorescence				Composite Inflorescence split down the middle: Note the many small flowers attached to the broad Receptacle
Erigeron sp.- One of my favorite Flowers - I think you can see why!!!!!!
Long sections of Erigeron Disk Flowers showing the Gynoecium, Androecium & Corolla

Composites frequently contain two types of Flowers.

The central flowers are called Disk Flowers.
These are Actinomorphic.

The peripheral flowers may have Zygomorphic corollas (bilateral symmetry)  and resemble rays of the sun. Thus, they are called Ray Flowers.