Asterales is an order of dicotyledonous flowering plants that includes the large family Asteraceae (or Compositae) known for composite flowers made of florets, and ten families related to the Asteraceae. The order has a cosmopolitan distribution, members are found throughout most of the world including desert and frigid zones, and includes mostly herbaceous species, although a small number of trees and shrubs are also present.

Asterales seem to have evolved from one common ancestor, and share characteristics on morphological and biochemical levels. Synapomorphies (a character that is shared by two or more groups through evolutionary development) include the presence in the plants of oligosaccharide inulin, a nutrient storage molecule used instead of starch; and unique stamen morphology. The stamens are usually found around the style, either aggregated densely or fused into a tube, probably an adaptation in association with the plunger (brush; or secondary) pollination that is common among the families of the order, wherein pollen is collected and stored on the length of the pistil.

The anthophytes are a grouping of plant taxa bearing flower-like reproductive structures. They were formerly thought to be a clade comprising plants bearing flower-like structures. The group contained the angiosperms - the extant flowering plants, such as roses and grasses - as well as the Gnetales and the extinct Bennettitales.

23,420 species of vascular plant have been recorded in South Africa, making it the sixth most species-rich country in the world and the most species-rich country on the African continent. Of these, 153 species are considered to be threatened. Nine biomes have been described in South Africa: Fynbos, Succulent Karoo, desert, Nama Karoo, grassland, savanna, Albany thickets, the Indian Ocean coastal belt, and forests.

The 2018 South African National Biodiversity Institute's National Biodiversity Assessment plant checklist lists 35,130 taxa in the phyla Anthocerotophyta (hornworts (6)), Anthophyta (flowering plants (33534)), Bryophyta (mosses (685)), Cycadophyta (cycads (42)), Lycopodiophyta (Lycophytes(45)), Marchantiophyta (liverworts (376)), Pinophyta (conifers (33)), and Pteridophyta (cryptogams (408)).

Five families are represented in the literature. Listed taxa include species, subspecies, varieties, and forms as recorded, some of which have subsequently been allocated to other taxa as synonyms, in which cases the accepted taxon is appended to the listing. Multiple entries under alternative names reflect taxonomic revision over time.

Asteraceae

Family: Asteraceae, 329 genera have been recorded. Not all are necessarily currently accepted.

Genus Acanthospermum: Genus Acanthotheca: Genus Achillea: Genus Achyrocline: Genus Acmella: Genus Adenachaena: Genus Adenanthellum: Genus Adenoglossa: Genus Adenostemma: Genus Afroaster: Genus Ageratina: Genus Ageratum: Genus Alatoseta: Genus Alciope: Genus Ambrosia: Genus Amellus: Genus Amphiglossa: Genus Anaglypha: Genus Anaxeton: Genus Anderbergia: Genus Anisochaeta: Genus Anisopappus: Genus Anisothrix: Genus Anthemis: Genus Antithrixia: Genus Aphelexis: Genus Arctotheca: Genus Arctotis: Genus Argyrocome: Genus Arnica: Genus Arrowsmithia: Genus Artemisia: Genus Artemisiopsis: Genus Ascaricida: Genus Aspilia: Genus Aster: Genus Athanasia: Genus Athrixia: Genus Atractylis: Genus Atrichantha: Genus Baccharis: Genus Baccharoides: Genus Berkheya: Genus Bertilia: Genus Bidens: Genus Blainvillea: Genus Blumea: Genus Bolandia: Genus Bothriocline: Genus Brachylaena: Genus Brachymeris: Genus Brachyrhynchos: Genus Bryomorphe: Genus Cacalia: Genus Cadiscus: Genus Calendula: Genus Callilepis: Genus Calostephane: Genus Calotesta: Genus Campuloclinium: Genus Candidea: Genus Capelio: Genus Caputia: Genus Carduus: Genus Carthamus: Genus Castalis: Genus Cenia: Genus Centaurea: Genus Centipeda: Genus Centrapalus: Genus Chondrilla: Genus Chromolaena: Genus Chrysanthellum: Genus Chrysanthemoides: Genus Chrysanthemum: Genus Chrysocoma: Genus Cineraria: Genus Cirsium: Genus Cnicus: Genus Comborhiza: Genus Conyza: Genus Corymbium: Genus Cosmos: Genus Cotula: Genus Crassocephalum: Genus Crassothonna: Genus Crepis: Genus Callumia: Genus Curio: Genus Cuspidia: Genus Cyanthillium: Genus Cymbopappus: Genus Cypselodontia: Genus Decaneurum: Genus Delairea: Genus Denekia: Genus Dicerothamnus: Genus Dichrocephala: Genus Dicoma: Genus Didelta: Genus Dimorphanthes: Genus Dimorphotheca: Genus Disparago: Genus Distephanus: Genus Dittrichia: Genus Doellia: Genus Dolichothrix: Genus Doria: Genus Doronicum: Genus Dymondia: Genus Eclipta: Genus Edmondia: Genus Elephantopus: Genus Elytropappus: Genus Emilia: Genus Enydra: Genus Erigeron: Genus Eriocephalus: Genus Erlangia: Genus Eschenbachia: Genus Ethulia: Genus Eumorphia: Genus Eupatorium: Genus Euryops: Genus Facelis: Genus Felicia: Genus Flaveria: Genus Foveolina: Genus Gaillardia: Genus Galeomma: Genus Galinsoga: Genus Gamochaeta: Genus Garuleum: Genus Gazania: Genus Geigeria: Genus Gerbera: Genus Gibbaria: Genus Glebionis: Genus Gnaphalium: Genus Gongrothamnus: Genus Gongyloglossa: Genus Gorteria: Genus Grangea: Genus Guizotia: Genus Gymnanthemum: Genus Gymnodiscus: Genus Gymnopentzia: Genus Gymnostephium: Genus Haplocarpha: Genus Hedypnois: Genus Helianthus: Genus Helichrysopsis: Genus Helichrysum: Genus Helminthotheca: Genus Hertia: Genus Heterolepis: Genus Heteromma: Genus Heterorhachis: Genus Hilliardia: Genus Hilliardiella: Genus Hippia: Genus Hirpicium: Genus Hoplophyllum: Genus Hydroidea: Genus Hymenolepis: Genus Hyoseris: Genus Hypericophyllum: Genus Hypochaeris: Genus Ifloga: Genus Inezia: Genus Inula: Genus Inulanthera: Genus Inuloides: Genus Iocaste: Genus Keringa: Genus Kleinia: Genus Klenzea: Genus Lachnospermum: Genus Lactuca: Genus Laevicarpa: Genus Laggera: Genus Lamprocephalus: Genus Langebergia: Genus Lapsana: Genus Lasiopogon: Genus Lasiopus: Genus Lasiospermum: Genus Launaea: Genus Lepidostephium: Genus Leptilon: Genus Leucanthemum: Genus Leucoptera: Genus Leysera: Genus Lidbeckia: Genus Linzia: Genus Litogyne: Genus Lopholaena: Genus Macledium: Genus Macowania: Genus Mairia: Genus Mantisalca: Genus Marasmodes: Genus Marsea: Genus Matricaria: Genus Melanthera: Genus Mesogramma: Genus Metalasia: Genus Microglossa: Genus Mikania: Genus Mikaniopsis: Genus Minurothamnus: Genus Monoculus: Genus Montanoa: Genus Monticapra: Genus Morysia: Genus Myrovernix: Genus Myxopappus: Genus Namibithamnus: Genus Nephrotheca: Genus Nestlera: Genus Nicolasia: Genus Nidorella: Genus Nolletia: Genus Norlindhia: Genus Oedera: Genus Oldenburgia: Genus Oligocarpus: Genus Oligoglossa: Genus Oligothrix: Genus Oncosiphon: Genus Oocephala: Genus Orbivestus: Genus Oreoleysera: Genus Oresbia: Genus Osmitopsis: Genus Osteospermum: Genus Othonna: Genus Oxylaena: Genus Parapolydora: Genus Parthenium: Genus Pechuel-loeschea: Genus Pegolettia: Genus Pentanema: Genus Pentatrichia: Genus Pentzia: Genus Perdicium: Genus Petalacte: Genus Peyrousea: Genus Phaenocoma: Genus Phaneroglossa: Genus Philyrophyllum: Genus Phymaspermum: Genus Picris: Genus Planea: Genus Platycarpha: Genus Platycarphella: Genus Plecostachys: Genus Plectreca: Genus Pluchea: Genus Poecilolepis: Genus Polyarrhena: Genus Polydora: Genus Printzia: Genus Pseudoconyza: Genus Pseudognaphalium: Genus Pseudopegolettia: Genus Psiadia: Genus Pteronia: Genus Pterothrix: Genus Pulicaria: Genus Relhania: Genus Rennera: Genus Rhynchopsidium: Genus Roldana: Genus Roodebergia: Genus Rosenia: Genus Schistostephium: Genus Schkuhria: Genus Senecio: Genus Seneciodes: Genus Seriphium: Genus Sigesbeckia: Genus Silybum: Genus Solanecio: Genus Solidago: Genus Soliva: Genus Sonchus: Genus Sphaeranthus: Genus Sphagneticola: Genus Spilanthes: Genus Staehelina: Genus Steirodiscus: Genus Stengelia: Genus Stilpnogyne: Genus Stoebe: Genus Stomatanthes: Genus Symphyotrichum: Genus Syncarpha: Genus Tagetes: Genus Tanacetum: Genus Taraxacum: Genus Tarchonanthus: Genus Tenrhynea: Genus Thaminophyllum: Genus Tithonia: Genus Tolpis: Genus Tragopogon: Genus Trichogyne: Genus Tridax: Genus Tripteris: Genus Troglophyton: Genus Urospermum: Genus Ursinia: Genus Vellereophyton: Genus Verbesina: Genus Vernonella: Genus Vernonia: Genus Vernoniastrum: Genus Vicoa: Genus Waitzia: Genus Webbia: Genus Wedelia: Genus Xanthium: Genus Xenismia: Genus Xeranthemum: Genus Youngia: Genus Zinnia: Genus Zoutpansbergia: Genus Zyrphelis:

Campanulaceae Family: Campanulaceae,

Campanula Genus Campanula: Campanula cinerea L.f. accepted as Wahlenbergia cinerea (L.f.) Lammers, indigenous Campanula fasciculata L.f. accepted as Wahlenbergia desmantha Lammers, endemic Campanula sessiliflora L.f. accepted as Wahlenbergia subulata (L'Her.) Lammers var. subulata, indigenous Campanula tenella L.f. accepted as Wahlenbergia tenella (L.f.) Lammers var. tenella, indigenous Campanula unidentata L.f. accepted as Wahlenbergia unidentata (L.f.) Lammers, endemic

Craterocapsa Genus Craterocapsa: Craterocapsa alfredica D.Y.Hong, endemic Craterocapsa congesta Hilliard & B.L.Burtt, indigenous Craterocapsa insizwae (Zahlbr.) Hilliard & B.L.Burtt, endemic Craterocapsa montana (A.DC.) Hilliard & B.L.Burtt, indigenous Craterocapsa tarsodes Hilliard & B.L.Burtt, indigenous

Lightfootia Genus Lightfootia: Lightfootia adpressa (Thunb.) A.DC. accepted as Wahlenbergia adpressa (Thunb.) Sond. present Lightfootia albens Spreng. ex A.DC. accepted as Wahlenbergia albens (Spreng. ex A.DC.) Lammers, indigenous Lightfootia albicaulis Sond. accepted as Wahlenbergia albicaulis (Sond.) Lammers, endemic Lightfootia asparagoides Adamson, accepted as Wahlenbergia asparagoides (Adamson) Lammers, endemic Lightfootia axillaris Sond. accepted as Wahlenbergia axillaris (Sond.) Lammers, endemic Lightfootia brachiata Adamson, accepted as Wahlenbergia brachiata (Adamson) Lammers, endemic Lightfootia brachyphylla Adamson, accepted as Wahlenbergia brachyphylla (Adamson) Lammers, endemic Lightfootia calcarea Adamson, accepted as Wahlenbergia calcarea (Adamson) Lammers, endemic Lightfootia caledonica Sond. accepted as Wahlenbergia dieterlenii (E.Phillips) Lammers, indigenous Lightfootia capillaris H.Buek, accepted as Wahlenbergia thulinii Lammers, endemic Lightfootia cinerea (L.f.) Sond. accepted as Wahlenbergia cinerea (L.f.) Lammers, endemic Lightfootia cordata Adamson, accepted as Wahlenbergia cordata (Adamson) Lammers, endemic Lightfootia denticulata (Burch.) Sond. var. transvaalensis Adamson, accepted as Wahlenbergia denticulata (Burch.) A.DC. var. transvaalensis (Adamson) W.G.Welman, indigenous Lightfootia dieterlenii E.Phillips, accepted as Wahlenbergia dieterlenii (E.Phillips) Lammers, indigenous Lightfootia diffusa H.Buek, accepted as Wahlenbergia tenella (L.f.) Lammers, indigenous Lightfootia diffusa H.Buek var. palustris Adamson, accepted as Wahlenbergia tenella (L.f.) Lammers var. palustris (Adamson) W.G.Welman, endemic Lightfootia diffusa H.Buek var. stokoei Adamson, accepted as Wahlenbergia tenella (L.f.) Lammers var. stokoei (Adamson) W.G.Welman, endemic Lightfootia dinteri Engl. ex Dinter, accepted as Wahlenbergia denticulata (Burch.) A.DC. var. denticulata Lightfootia divaricata H.Buek, accepted as Wahlenbergia thunbergii (Schult.) B.Nord. var. thunbergii, indigenous Lightfootia divaricata H.Buek var. debilis (Sond.) Adamson, accepted as Wahlenbergia thunbergii (Schult.) B.Nord. var. debilis (Sond.) B.Nord. endemic Lightfootia divaricata H.Buek var. filifolia Adamson, accepted as Wahlenbergia thunbergii (Schult.) B.Nord. var. filifolia (Adamson) B.Nord. endemic Lightfootia effusa Adamson, accepted as Wahlenbergia effusa (Adamson) Lammers, endemic Lightfootia fasciculata (L.f.) A.DC. accepted as Wahlenbergia desmantha Lammers, endemic Lightfootia intermedia H.Buek, accepted as Wahlenbergia thunbergii (Schult.) B.Nord. var. thunbergii, indigenous