The South American family Calyceraceae is analysed and some new observations on pollen and petal epidermis‐patterns are presented. The new characters give some indication of a relationship to Compositae. The choice of Calyceraceae as the sister‐group of Compositae is discussed, and it is further suggested that Compositae, Calyceraceae, and Lobeliaceae constitute a clade. Two new specific combinations in the Calyceraceae are formally established: Gamocarpha alpina and Calycera and