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Ethnobotanical and floret studies were carried on 12 species of family Asteraceae in Ile-Ife, Osun state, Nigeria. The aim was to access the extent of use of medicinal plants by the tribal and local people and to determine the importance of floret number in the taxonomy of the members of family Asteraceae, Data were gathered through interviews and structured questionnaire to show that the local people utilize different plant species for treatment of diseases. In this study, 12 species with ethnobotanical values were identified as being used by local people as food, fuels and medicine. Floret study was done by studying 25 capitula each from 20 individuals of each species. Capitula at anthesis were harvested randomly from the species planted in garden and screen house. Each capitulum was dissected by means of a pair of forceps and mounting needle to detach the florets from receptacle. The detached florets were counted to count the number of florets contained in each capitulum. Data generated were subjected to One Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) with Post hoc test for significant differences among the species at p<0.05. The result indicates that the 12 species of the family Asteraceae studied were commonly used as food, fuel and medicines. Similarly, there was significant difference in floret number among the species. Mean floret number of the species ranges from 16.60 in Vernonia amygdalina to 91.64 in Crassocephalum crepidiodes. It was observed that the availability of these plants were decreasing at a significant rate. This observation also reveals that habitat destruction, over exploitation and unplanned agricultural practices were the reasons for depletion of medicinal plants.
Keywords: Anthesis, Ethnobotanical, Capitula, Floret and Receptacle.