Although the sunflower has long been a member of the Compositae family, the name was updated to what?

Although the sunflower has long been a member of the Compositae family, the name was updated to what?

• A. Rosaceae
• B. Asteraceae
• C. Poaceae
• D. Acanthaceae

Answer: (B)

Sunflowers are classified in the family now known as Asteraceae. The old label Compositae is no longer the standard name in modern taxonomy; naming conventions have been standardized to use Asteraceae, a term derived from the genus Aster and reflecting the characteristic daisy-like flower heads found in this family. This update helps unify references across textbooks and databases. The other options correspond to entirely different plant families—Rosaceae is roses, Poaceae is grasses, and Acanthaceae is the acanthus family—so they don’t apply to sunflowers.

Sunflowers are classified in the family now known as Asteraceae. The old label Compositae is no longer the standard name in modern taxonomy; naming conventions have been standardized to use Asteraceae, a term derived from the genus Aster and reflecting the characteristic daisy-like flower heads found in this family. This update helps unify references across textbooks and databases. The other options correspond to entirely different plant families—Rosaceae is roses, Poaceae is grasses, and Acanthaceae is the acanthus family—so they don’t apply to sunflowers.