Anthemideae
Annual or perennial herbs, rarely shrubs, often strongly scented, lacking latex. Lvs usually alternate, rarely opposite. Involucral bracts in 2-few rows, usually wholly membranous or with membranous margins and apex. Receptacle with or without scales. Capitula usually ⚥, homomorphic-discoid, or heteromorphic with 1-few rows of ligulate ray florets and actinomorphic disc florets. Anthers usually not tailed, rarely shortly tailed. Style branches each with 2 stigmatic lines. Achenes homomorphic or heteromorphic, with 0-10 ribs or 0-3 wings, terete or compressed; pappus reduced to a corona or auricle, sometimes 0.
Key
101 genera, 1400 spp., cosmopolitan, but mostly N. temperate.
The Anthemideae appear to form a natural group, although the placement of some genera is in doubt. In particular Abrotanella, which is represented in N.Z. by indigenous spp. only and is usually treated in this tribe, is not included here but rather in the Senecioneae [ see, Nordenstam, B., in Heywood et al. (op. cit.)].
There are considerable differences among authors in the circumscription of genera within the Anthemideae, especially in the Chrysanthemum complex. The treatment adopted here follows Heywood, V. H. and Humphries, C. J., in Heywood et al. (op. cit.) except for Cotula and Soliva as outlined below.
Many Anthemideae are cultivated as ornamentals or herbs, often because of their silver foliage and scented lvs. The morphology of the mature achenes and the receptacle scales are important in identification.