![bee on aster (Celia Davies)](/sites/default/files/styles/node_hero_default/public/2021-08/bee%20on%20aster%20%28Celia%20Davies%29.jpg?h=093a0f23&itok=nPQvm6EG)
bee on aster (Celia Davies)
carline thistle (J Shorter)
Sea Aster 1 (Howard Blackie)
![Wild flowers (C Thompson)](/sites/default/files/styles/node_hero_default/public/2024-06/Wild%20flowers2%20%28C%20Thompson%29.jpg?h=9c86ceb9&itok=tbm9Qu9m)
Wild flowers (C Thompson)
![Carline thistle, with its thistle-like centre and white petals.](/sites/default/files/styles/node_hero_default/public/2024-03/Carline%20Thistle%20vaughn%20matthews%20%281%29.jpg?h=4e8d6f4c&itok=2PYWuljJ)
© Vaughn Matthews
![Bee and Flower](/sites/default/files/styles/node_hero_default/public/third_light/Bee0013a.jpg?h=5f29f7b4&itok=v4ZnWqdC)
©Jon Hawkins
![](/sites/default/files/styles/node_hero_default/public/third_light/burkmarr_oxeye_daisy_080604.jpg?itok=jcXL7LTO)
WildNet - Richard Burkmar
Dandelions, Daisies and Thistles: sorting the look-alikes
About the event
Can you distinguish between all the thistle lookalikes, between the mayweeds and chamomiles, or between the hawkbits and the hawkweeds?
On this Study Day you will learn how to sort out the look-alikes in this, the largest family of flowering plants – the Asteraceae or Compositae, as they were previously called.
You will spend the morning getting to grips with the basic features of this family, particularly those features that help us sort out the different genera and species. The rest of the day will be spent exploring the local habitats (at a leisurely pace) and practising those ID skills.
By the end of the session you will be able to tackle the identification of the major genera and species of our Asteraceae, by their key floral features, using a hand lens.
Led by Ros Bennett, Botanist
Suitable for beginners and improvers
Booking
Price
Normal fee: £37.50 per person per day.Concessionary fee: Kent Wildlife Trust volunteers, senior citizens, unemployed and students £5 off.