Heliantheae

noun

The Heliantheae are a tribe of closely related genera of the sunflower family that can be readily recognized due to the association of a receptacular bract or chaff scale with each disk floret in the head. The heads usually include bisexual, actinomorphic disk florets with tubular corollas that have 4 or 5 distal lobes and also peripheral zygomorphic female or sometimes sterile florets with strap-shaped corollas that have 3 or fewer distal teeth. However, the ray flowers are sometimes absent and the heads are then discoid, containing only bisexual florets with tubular corollas. The pappus is absent or more commonly ranges from scales to stiff bristles. -- Gerald Carr.