The Heliantheae (sometimes called the sunflower tribe) are the third-largest

tribe The term tribe is used in many different contexts to refer to a category of human social group. The predominant worldwide usage of the term in English language, English is in the discipline of anthropology. This definition is contested, in p ...

in the

sunflower The common sunflower (''Helianthus annuus'') is a large annual forb of the genus ''Helianthus'' grown as a crop for its edible oily seeds. Apart from cooking oil production, it is also used as livestock forage (as a meal or a silage plant), as ...

family (

Asteraceae The family Asteraceae, alternatively Compositae, consists of over 32,000 known species of flowering plants in over 1,900 genera within the order Asterales. Commonly referred to as the aster, daisy, composite, or sunflower family, Compositae w ...

). With some 190 genera and nearly 2500 recognized species, only the tribes

Senecioneae Senecioneae is the largest tribe of the Asteraceae, or the sunflower family, comprising over 150 genera and over 3,500 species. Almost one-third of the species in this tribe are placed in the genus ''Senecio''. Its members exhibit probably the w ...

and

Astereae Astereae is a tribe of plants in the family Asteraceae that includes annuals, biennials, perennials, subshrubs, shrubs, and trees. They are found primarily in temperate regions of the world. Plants within the tribe are present nearly worldwide di ...

are larger. The name is derived from the genus ''

Helianthus ''Helianthus'' () is a genus comprising about 70 species of annual and perennial flowering plants in the daisy family Asteraceae commonly known as sunflowers. Except for three South American species, the species of ''Helianthus'' are native to ...

'', which is

Greek Greek may refer to: Greece Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group. *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family. **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor ...

for sun flower. Most genera and species are found in

North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Car ...

(particularly in

Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...

) and

South America South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern tip of the continent. It can also be described as the southe ...

. A few genera are pantropical. Most Heliantheae are herbs or

shrub A shrub (often also called a bush) is a small-to-medium-sized perennial woody plant. Unlike herbaceous plants, shrubs have persistent woody stems above the ground. Shrubs can be either deciduous or evergreen. They are distinguished from trees ...

s, but some grow to the size of small trees. Leaves are usually

hairy Hairy may refer to: * people or animals covered in hairs or fur * plants covered in trichomes * insects covered in setae * people nicknamed "the Hairy" * Hairy (gene) See also * Hairies, a fictional people * Haerye ''Hunminjeongeum Haerye'' ...

and arranged in opposite pairs. The

anther The stamen (plural ''stamina'' or ''stamens'') is the pollen-producing reproductive organ of a flower. Collectively the stamens form the androecium., p. 10 Morphology and terminology A stamen typically consists of a stalk called the filam ...

s are usually blackened. The above statements about the size and distribution of the tribe apply to a broad definition of Heliantheae, which was followed throughout the 20th century. Some recent authors break the tribe up into a dozen or so smaller tribes.

Uses

Commercially important plants in the Heliantheae include

and

Jerusalem artichoke The Jerusalem artichoke (''Helianthus tuberosus''), also called sunroot, sunchoke, wild sunflower, topinambur, or earth apple, is a species of sunflower native to central North America. It is cultivated widely across the temperate zone for its ...

. Many garden flowers are also in this group, such as ''

Coreopsis ''Coreopsis'' () is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. Common names include calliopsis and tickseed, a name shared with various other plants. Description These plants range from in height. The flowers are usually yellow wi ...

'', ''

Cosmos The cosmos (, ) is another name for the Universe. Using the word ''cosmos'' implies viewing the universe as a complex and orderly system or entity. The cosmos, and understandings of the reasons for its existence and significance, are studied in ...

'', ''

Echinacea ''Echinacea'' is a genus of herbaceous flowering plants in the daisy family. It has ten species, which are commonly called coneflowers. They are found only in eastern and central North America, where they grow in moist to dry prairies and ope ...

'', ''

Rudbeckia ''Rudbeckia'' () is a plant genus in the Asteraceae or composite family. Rudbeckia flowers feature a prominent, raised central disc in black, brown shades of green, and in-between tones, giving rise to their familiar common names of coneflowers a ...

'', and ''

Zinnia ''Zinnia'' is a genus of plants of the tribe Heliantheae within the family Asteraceae. They are native to scrub and dry grassland in an area stretching from the Southwestern United States to South America, with a centre of diversity in Mexico. ...

''. Some authors place ''Coreopsis'' and ''Cosmos'' in the

Coreopsideae Coreopsideae is a tribe of flowering plants belonging to the Asteroideae subfamily. It includes widely cultivated genera such as ''Cosmos'' and ''Dahlia''. A similar group has been recognized since 1829, generally as part of the tribe Helianthe ...

tribe. In addition to the benefits brought by the group, some are also problematic

weed A weed is a plant considered undesirable in a particular situation, "a plant in the wrong place", or a plant growing where it is not wanted.Harlan, J. R., & deWet, J. M. (1965). Some thoughts about weeds. ''Economic botany'', ''19''(1), 16-24. ...

s. Species of ''Ambrosia'' (

ragweed Ragweeds are flowering plants in the genus ''Ambrosia'' in the aster family, Asteraceae. They are distributed in the tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, especially North America,pollen Pollen is a powdery substance produced by seed plants. It consists of pollen grains (highly reduced microgametophytes), which produce male gametes (sperm cells). Pollen grains have a hard coat made of sporopollenin that protects the gametophyt ...

. Each plant is reputed to be able to produce about a billion grains of pollen over a season, and the plant is wind-

pollinated Pollination is the transfer of pollen from an anther of a plant to the stigma of a plant, later enabling fertilisation and the production of seeds, most often by an animal or by wind. Pollinating agents can be animals such as insects, birds, ...

Taxonomy

The traditional circumscription of the Heliantheae arises from Cassini's 19th-century classification of the Asteraceae. This broad group been divided by some authors into smaller tribes:

Bahieae Bahieae is a tribe of plants in the family Asteraceae, mostly native to North America and Mexico. It was described by Baldwin et al. in 2002. Taxonomy Bahieae genera recognized by the Global Compositae Database as of April 2022: *'' Achyropappus ...

Chaenactideae Chaenactideae is a tribe of flowering plants in the subfamily Asteroideae of the family Asteraceae The family Asteraceae, alternatively Compositae, consists of over 32,000 known species of flowering plants in over 1,900 genera within the or ...

Helenieae Helenieae is a tribe of the plant family Asteraceae. The type genus is ''Helenium'', but the best known members of the tribe are the '' Gaillardia''. Helenieae are usually placed in their own tribe, but some authors include this and several other ...

, Heliantheae ''

sensu stricto ''Sensu'' is a Latin word meaning "in the sense of". It is used in a number of fields including biology, geology, linguistics, semiotics, and law. Commonly it refers to how strictly or loosely an expression is used in describing any particular co ...

'',

Madieae Madieae is a tribe of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. It is sometimes considered a subtribe of Heliantheae. Notable species include the tarweeds of the Western United States as well as the silverswords of Hawaii. Subtribes and gener ...

Millerieae Millerieae is a tribe of flowering plants belonging to the Asteroideae subfamily. Of all the genera, only '' Galinsoga'', ''Guizotia'', and ''Sigesbeckia'' have species native to the Old World. Subtribes and genera Millerieae subtribes and ge ...

Perityleae Perityleae is a tribe of flowering plants in the subfamily Asteroideae. The species of its genera are native exclusively to the New World. This tribe is closely related to the Eupatorieae Eupatorieae is a tribe of over 2000D.J.N.Hind & H.E.Ro ...

Polymnieae ''Polymnia'' is a genus of Western Hemisphere, American plants in the Asteraceae, sunflower family. It is the only genus in the tribe ''Polymnieae''. Several species are known by the common name leafcup. ; Species Tageteae Tageteae is a tribe of the plant family Asteraceae. It consists of approximately 260 species divided among 32 genera. All are found in the New World, with a center of diversity in the Mexican highlands. The type genus is ''Tagetes'' (marigolds). ...

. Because the

Eupatorieae Eupatorieae is a tribe of over 2000D.J.N.Hind & H.E.Robinson. 2007. Tribe Eupatorieae In: ''The Families and Genera of Vascular Plants'' vol.VIII. (Joachim W.Kadereit & Charles Jeffrey, volume editors. Klaus Kubitzky, general editor). Springer-Ve ...

originated from within the Heliantheae (broadly defined), to maintain

monophyletic In cladistics for a group of organisms, monophyly is the condition of being a clade—that is, a group of taxa composed only of a common ancestor (or more precisely an ancestral population) and all of its lineal descendants. Monophyletic gro ...

taxa it is necessary to either make Eupatorieae a subtribe within Heliantheae or to split the Heliantheae into smaller tribes. Such classifications may define a supertribe Helianthodae including these smaller tribes, the Eupatorieae, and a few other tribes such as

Inuleae Inuleae is a tribe of flowering plants in the subfamily Asteroideae. Genera Inuleae genera recognized by the Global Compositae Database as of April 2022: *''Adelostigma'' *''Allagopappus'' *''Allopterigeron'' *'' Amblyocarpum'' *'' Antiphi ...

.Helianthodae H. Rob.
''Tree of Life Web Project''

Subtribes and genera

Heliantheae subtribes and genera recognized by the Global Compositae Database as of May 2022: *Subtribe Ambrosiinae **''

Ambrosia In the ancient Greek myths, ''ambrosia'' (, grc, ἀμβροσία 'immortality'), the food or drink of the Greek gods, is often depicted as conferring longevity or immortality upon whoever consumed it. It was brought to the gods in Olympus ...

'' **'' Dicoria'' **''

Euphrosyne Euphrosyne (; grc, Εὐφροσύνη), in ancient Greek religion and mythology, was one of the Charites, known in ancient Rome as the ''Gratiae'' (Graces). She was sometimes called Euthymia (Εὐθυμία) or Eutychia (Εὐτυχία). Fa ...

'' **'' Hedosyne'' **'' Iva'' **'' Parthenice'' **''

Parthenium ''Parthenium'' is a genus of North American shrubs in the tribe Heliantheae within the family Asteraceae and subfamily Asteroideae. The name ''Parthenium'' is an evolution of the Ancient Greek name παρθένιον (''parthenion''), which ref ...

'' **''

Xanthium ''Xanthium'' (cocklebur) is a genus of flowering plants in the tribe Heliantheae within the family Asteraceae, native to the Americas and eastern Asia and some parts of south Asia . Description Cockleburs are coarse, herbaceous annual plants ...

'' *Subtribe

Chromolepidinae ''Chromolepis'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. There is only one known species, ''Chromolepis heterophylla'', endemic to Mexico (States of Mexico State, México and Michoacán). **'' Chromolepis'' *Subtribe Dugesiinae **''

Dugesia ''Dugesia'' (pronounced, /duˈd͡ʒiʒ(i)ə/) is a genus of dugesiid triclads that contains some common representatives of the class Turbellaria. These common flatworms are found in freshwater habitats of Africa, Eurasia, and Australia. ''Dugesi ...

'' *Subtribe Ecliptinae **''

Aspilia ''Aspilia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. Some authors have merged this genus with '' Wedelia'', but others maintain that more study is required. ''Aspilia'' is native to Africa, Madagascar, and Latin America. Medicin ...

'' **''

Baltimora Baltimora was an Italian music project from Milan, active from 1984 to 1987. They are best known for their 1985 single "Tarzan Boy" and are often considered a one-hit wonder in the United Kingdom and the United States. In other European countri ...

'' **'' Blainvillea'' **'' Calyptocarpus'' **'' Clibadium'' **'' Damnxanthodium'' **'' Delilia'' **'' Dimerostemma'' **'' Eclipta'' **'' Elaphandra'' **''

Eleutheranthera ''Eleutheranthera'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae The family Asteraceae, alternatively Compositae, consists of over 32,000 known species of flowering plants in over 1,900 genera within the order Asterales. Commonl ...

'' **'' Exomiocarpon'' **'' Fenixia'' **'' Hoffmanniella'' **'' Idiopappus'' **'' Iogeton'' **'' Jefea'' **'' Kingianthus'' **'' Lantanopsis'' **''

Lasianthaea ''Lasianthaea'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. The species are native primarily to Mexico, with one species extending just over the border into the United States and another south to northwestern South America ...

'' **'' Leptocarpha'' **''

Lipochaeta ''Lipochaeta'', common name nehe, is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae that is endemic to Hawaii. Taxonomy There are difficulties regarding the classification of this genus for its affinities are uncertain. Some studies have ...

'' **'' Lundellianthus'' **''

Melanthera ''Melanthera'' (common name: squarestem), is a genus of perennial flowering plants in the family Asteraceae, native to North and South America, as well as Africa, Asia and Oceania, including Hawaii. The most common species of this genus is ''Me ...

'' **''

Monactis ''Monactis'' is a genus of South American flowering plants in the tribe Heliantheae within the family Asteraceae. ; SpeciesOblivia'' **'' Otopappus'' **'' Oyedaea'' **'' Pascalia'' **'' Pentalepis'' **'' Perymeniopsis'' **'' Perymenium'' **'' Plagiolophus'' **'' Podanthus'' **'' Rensonia'' **'' Riencourtia'' **'' Schizoptera'' **'' Sphagneticola'' **'' Steiractinia'' **'' Synedrella'' **'' Synedrellopsis'' **'' Tilesia'' **''

Trigonopterum ''Trigonopterum'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Asteraceae. It contains a single species, ''Trigonopterum laricifolium''. Its native range is the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador Ecuador ( ; ; Quechua: ''Ikwayur''; ...

'' **'' Tuberculocarpus'' **'' Tuxtla'' **'' Wamalchitamia'' **'' Wedelia'' **'' Wollastonia'' **'' Zexmenia'' **'' Zyzyxia'' *Subtribe Enceliinae **''

Encelia ''Encelia'' is a genus of the plant family Asteraceae. It consists of shrubs (and one geophyte) of arid environments in southwestern North America and western South America. All have n = 18 chromosomes. All the North American species are obliga ...

'' **'' Enceliopsis'' **'' Flourensia'' **''

Geraea ''Geraea'' is a genus of the family Asteraceae from the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, commonly called the desert sunflower. ; Species * '' Geraea canescens'' Torr. & A.Gray - California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah * '' Geraea v ...

'' **''

Helianthella ''Helianthella'', the little sunflower, is a genus of North American plants in the family Asteraceae. ; Species * '' Helianthella californica'' A.Gray - California, Nevada, Oregon * '' Helianthella castanea'' Greene - San Francisco Bay region * ...

'' *Subtribe Engelmanniinae **''

Agnorhiza ''Agnorhiza'' is a small genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae described as a genus in 1998. Its species had previously been considered members of either ''Wyethia'' or ''Balsamorhiza''. The plants are native to California, with the ...

'' **''

Berlandiera ''Berlandiera'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. The name honours explorer Jean-Louis Berlandier (1803–1851).

'' **'' Borrichia'' **'' Chrysogonum'' **'' Engelmannia'' **'' Lindheimera'' **''

Silphium Silphium (also known as ''silphion'', ''laserwort'', or ''laser'') is an unidentified plant that was used in classical antiquity as a seasoning, perfume, aphrodisiac, and medicine. It also was used as a contraceptive by ancient Greeks and Romans ...

'' **'' Vigethia'' **''

Wyethia ''Wyethia'' is a genus of North American flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. First published by Thomas Nuttall in J. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia vol.7 on page 39 in 1834. These plants are commonly referred to as mule's ears. They are sho ...

'' *Subtribe Helianthinae **'' Aldama'' **'' Alvordia'' **'' Bahiopsis'' **'' Calanticaria'' **'' Davilanthus'' **''

'' **'' Heliomeris'' **'' Hymenostephium'' **'' Iostephane'' **'' Lagascea'' **'' Pappobolus'' **'' Phoebanthus'' **''

Rhysolepis ''Rhysolepis'' is a genus of Mexico, Mexican plants in the tribe Heliantheae within the family Asteraceae. ; SpeciesScalesia'' **'' Sclerocarpus'' **'' Simsia'' **'' Stuessya'' **'' Syncretocarpus'' **'' Tithonia'' **''

Viguiera ''Viguiera'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. The name honours French physician L. G. Alexandre Viguier (1790–1867). It contains around 150 species, which are commonly known as goldeneyes and are native to the New World ...

'' *Subtribe Montanoinae **''

Montanoa ''Montanoa'' is a genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and bel ...

'' *Subtribe Rojasianthinae **'' Rojasianthe'' *Subtribe Rudbeckiinae **''

Ratibida ''Ratibida'' is a genus of North American plants in the tribe Heliantheae within the family Asteraceae. Members of the genus are commonly known as prairie coneflowers or mexican-hat. Species There are 7 species: * ''Ratibida coahuilensis'' B.L.T ...

'' **''

'' *Subtribe Spilanthinae **'' Acmella'' **'' Oxycarpha'' **'' Salmea'' **'' Spilanthes'' **'' Tetranthus'' *Subtribe Verbesininae **'' Podachaenium'' **'' Squamopappus'' **'' Tetrachyron'' **''

Verbesina ''Verbesina'', many species of which have crownbeard as part of their common names, is a genus of flowering plants, in the family Asteraceae. It is a large genus of about 350 species. All the species bear white or yellow flowers similar to small ...

'' *Subtribe Zaluzaniinae **'' Hybridella'' **''

Zaluzania ''Zaluzania'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. ; Species All the species are native to Mexico; one also crosses the border into the United States. * ''Zaluzania asperrima'' Sch.Bip. - Puebla * ''Zaluzania augusta'' (Lag.) ...

'' *Subtribe Zinniinae **''

'' **'' Heliopsis'' **'' Philactis'' **'' Sanvitalia'' **'' Tehuana'' **'' Trichocoryne'' **''

References

Bibliography

* * * * Bremer, Kåre. (1994). ''Asteraceae: Cladistics & Classification''. Portland, OR: Timber Press. . * Robinson, Harold Ernest. (1981). ''A Revision of the Tribal and Subtribal Limits of the Heliantheae (Asteraceae)''. ''Smithsonian Contributions to Botany'': 51. * Strother, John L. (1991). ''Taxonomy of Complaya, Elaphandra, Iogeton, Jefea, Wamalchitamia, Wedelia, Zexmenia, and Zyzyxia (Compositae - Heliantheae - Ecliptinae)''. ''Systematic Botany Monographs'': 33.

External links

* * * * {{taxonbar, from=Q666616 Asteraceae tribes