Perennials, 3–40(–100) cm (fibrous-rooted, sometimes rhizomatous; stems ± scapiform). Leaves basal; sessile or ± petiolate; blades elliptic or elliptic-obovate to obovate, obovate-elliptic, ovate, or sublyrate, bases cuneate, margins entire or denticulate, serrulate, or dentate to lobed, abaxial faces usually covered with dense wool, adaxial faces glabrous or glabrescent. Heads quasi-radiate or ± disciform (see florets; chasmogamous, produced well after rosette leaves, erect in flowering, nodding or erect in bud and again in fruit), borne singly. Involucres cylindric to campanulate, (7–)9–15+ mm (larger in fruit). Phyllaries in 2–5+ series, lanceolate to lance-linear, unequal, apices acute. Receptacles flat to convex, foveolate or smooth, glabrous, epaleate. Florets (dimorphic or trimorphic in 1–2 outer, pistillate zones plus 1 inner, bisexual or functionally staminate zone): outer pistillate-zone florets 9–38(–90+) in 1–2(–3) series, fertile, corollas creamy white to purple (sometimes with adaxial midstripe), zygomorphic (liguliform or bilabiate, inner lip often bifurcate, limbs sometimes reduced, style branches terete and linear to flattened and oblong); inner pistillate-zone florets 0 or 3–50 in 1–2 series, fertile, corollas usually ± zygomorphic (with reduced laminae and inner lips), sometimes reduced to tubes; innermost florets usually bisexual and fertile, sometimes functionally staminate, 15–40, corollas whitish to pinkish, usually zygomorphic (2-lipped, lobes recurved or coiling), sometimes nearly actinomorphic (lobes ± equal or lobes ± 0); anther basal appendages entire, apical appendages lanceolate; style branches relatively short (abaxially pilose). Cypselae fusiform, often slightly flattened, distally ± tapered into necks or beaks (0.5–1.6[–3] times bodies), ribs mostly 4–12, faces glabrous or hairy (hairs duplex, relatively short, apices rounded to apiculate), not glandular; pappi of 50+ stramineous to pinkish, barbellulate bristles. x = 24.

Distribution

North America, Central America, South America.

Discussion

Species ca. 60 (3 in the flora).

Selected References

Nesom, G. L. 1984. Taxonomy and distribution of Chaptalia dentata and C. albicans (Asteraceae: Mutisieae). Brittonia 36: 396–401.

Nesom, G. L. 1995. Revision of Chaptalia (Asteraceae: Mutisieae) from North America and continental Central America. Phytologia 78: 153–188.

Lower Taxa

Chaptalia albicans, Chaptalia texana, Chaptalia tomentosa

Key

1	Heads erect in bud, flowering, and fruit; peduncles dilated distally; laminae of pistillate corollas 0.2–0.3 mm wide	Chaptalia albicans
1	Heads nodding in bud and fruit, erect in flowering; peduncles not dilated distally; laminae of pistillate corollas 0.2–1.5 mm wide	> 2
2	Leaves petiolate, blades mostly obovate to sublyrate; laminae of pistillate corollas evenly cream-colored (turning to crimson); central florets bisexual, fertile; uplands, Texas, New Mexico	Chaptalia texana
2	Leaves sessile, blades elliptic to elliptic-obovate; laminae of pistillate corollas creamy white with purple, abaxial midstripe; central florets functionally staminate; coastal plain, North Carolina to Texas	Chaptalia tomentosa