Asteraceae

Cosmos Cav.

First published in Icon. 1: 9 (1791)
This genus is accepted
The native range of this genus is W. Central & Central U.S.A. to Trinidad and NW. Argentina.

Descriptions

Ghazanfar, S. A., Edmondson, J. R. & Hind, D. J. N. (Eds). (2019). Flora of Iraq, Volume 6: Compositae.Kew Publishing

Morphology General Habit
Annuals or perennials with an erect or ascending stem, ± branched
Morphology Leaves
Leaves opposite, mostly cauline, usually pinnately 1–3-lobed or undivided, petiolate or sessile, usually glabrous, sometimes glabrate, hispid, puberulent, or scabridulous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Capitulum
Capitula solitary or corymbose, radiate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Involucre
Involucre hemispherical; phyllaries ± 2-seriate, ± equal, membranous or herbaceous, margin ± scarious, persistent; receptacles flat, paleate; scales linear, flat or slightly concave-convex, scarious or entire
Ray
Ray florets sterile; corollas white to pink or purple, or yellow to red-orange
Disc
Disk florets bisexual, fertile; corollas yellow or orange, 5-lobed
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Achenes quadrangular-cylindric or -fusiform, sometimes slightly arcuate, beaked, wingless or winged; pappus of 2–4(–8) retrorsely barbed awns, sometimes absent.
Distribution
About 26 species, tropical and subtropical America, especially Mexico; widely introduced elsewhere; two species cultivated in Iraq, both native to Mexico and SW USA.
[FIQ]

Compositae, H. Beentje, C. Jeffrey & D.J.N. Hind. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 2005

Morphology General Habit
Annual or perennial herbs, sometimes shrubs
Morphology Leaves
Leaves opposite, pinnatisect or simple
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Capitulum
Capitula terminal and solitary or in few-headed terminal or axillary cymes, radiate; involucre often fleshy at base, the phyllaries connate at base, 2-seriate with the outer leafy and the inner scarious; paleae present
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets
Ray florets neuter; disc florets many, anthers with ovate or cordate apical appendage; style branches truncate, with caudate appendage
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Achenes fusiform, and typically attenuate into a beak; pappus absent or of retrorsely barbed aristae
Distribution
About 30 species from the Americas; some species cultivated.
[FTEA]

Sources

  • Flora of Iraq

    • Flora of Somalia
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • World Checklist of Vascular plants (WCVP)

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0