The ASTERACEAE family was previously known as the COMPOSITAE because the large flowerheads are a composite made up of various parts or elements or cluster of small flowers. The current family name refers to the Aster genus, the typical representative of the family. Ironically, the Aster genus is no longer found in Florida due to taxonomic changes.

The Aster family, Composite family, and Sunflower family are common names for the ASTERACEAE. The Aster family has more species than any other plant family except possibly the ORCHIDACEAE (Orchid family). Florida has 441 species in the Aster family.