Introduction to the Compositae of the North American Prairies

The North American Prairie landscape at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew at Wakehurst Place, Ardingly, West Sussex, is discussed. The abundance of the Compositae in the North American Prairies is outlined, by tribe, and comments provided on a range of 105 interesting Compositae that could be considered in prairie plantings, for dry, moist and wet situations. The exclusion of a number of plants that are most unsuitable for prairie plantings is also covered, with whole tribes, such as the Cardueae and Anthemideae, excluded from potential planting schemes, and a limited selection made from the Lactuceae and Senecioneae. The Astereae, other than providing a large selection of potential prairie plants, is discussed more fully, especially with the break-up of the core genus Aster. Both inside and outside of the prairie environment there have been many taxonomic changes, with name changes of concern to taxonomists and horticulturists alike. Shaw's list is revised, relevant to those he left in Aster, and some observations made on how the splitting of Aster is still an active area of research. The differing propagation methods, in general and for the Compositae in particular, are outlined, covering vegetative propagation methods, and seed harvesting, cleaning, and sowing preparation techniques outlined. A number of previously published plates from Curtis's Botanical Magazine are used to illustrate some of the tribes, and are supplemented by photographs of several species, mostly from the Heliantheae, in cultivation at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. The supportive appendices cover: Appendix 1 – 105 suitable Compositae that can be considered for prairie plantings, each with an indication of tribe, common name/s, publication details of those previously illustrated in Curtis's Botanical Magazine (or in this issue), the plate number under which it was published, together with those republished in this issue, and photographs of a handful of others, together with an indication of the base colour/s of the flowering capitula of each, and Appendix 2 an updated list of the species left in Aster in Shaw's 2014 list following several subsequent transfers into other genera, and a different view of the taxonomy of some of the genera.