Economical Importance
The Asterales, by dint of being a super-set of the family Asteraceae, include some species grown for food, including the sunflower (Helianthus annuus), lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and chicory (Cichorium). Many spices and medicinal herbs are also present.
Asterales are common plants and have many known uses. For example, Pyrethrum (refers to several Old World plants of the genus Chrysanthemum) is a natural insecticide with minimal environmental impact. Wormwood, a genus that includes the sagebrush, is used as a source of flavoring for absinthe, a bitter classical liquor of European origin. Of horticultural importance are many of the Asteraceae (e. g. chrysanthemum) and Campanulaceae.
Despite the large number of species in order Asterales, they do not compare in economic benefit for mankind to the Poales or to the Fabaceae. And, www.invasive.org notes 838 invasive plant species in the Asterales, all members of the Asteraceae.
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