Cichorioideae
Cichorioideae is a subfamily of the Asteraceae (the sunflower family). It comprises a diverse group of mostly herbaceous plants, many of which produce a milky latex. A defining feature of many genera in this subfamily is the capitulum (flower head) composed exclusively of ligulate, or strap-shaped, florets, rather than the mixed heads seen in other Asteraceae. The pappus is often absent or reduced in this group.
The subfamily includes several well-known genera, such as Taraxacum (dandelions), Cichorium (chicory), Lactuca (lettuce), Sonchus (sow
Taxonomically, Cichorioideae has been treated historically as a separate family (Cichoriaceae), but modern classifications place it
Economically and ecologically, members of Cichorioideae are important as crops (lettuce and chicory), foraged greens, and