Annuals [perennials, subshrubs], 10–60+ cm (usually aromatic). Stems usually 1, usually erect [prostrate], branched [immediately proximal to sessile, terminal heads], puberulent or villous to arachnose (hairs basifixed), glabrescent. Leaves mostly cauline; alternate; petiolate (proximal) or sessile (distal); blades obovate or spatulate to oblong or linear, 1–2(–3)-pinnately lobed (ultimate lobes ± linear to filiform), ultimate margins entire or dentate, faces villous to arachnose, glabrescent. Heads radiate, borne singly or in lax, corymbiform arrays. Involucres hemispheric or broader, 5–8[–12+] mm diam. Phyllaries persistent, 16–24+ in 2–3+ series, lance-linear or lanceolate to oblong or obovate, subequal, margins and apices (hyaline) scarious (apices ± dilated, rounded, abaxial faces ± villous or arachnose, glabrescent). Receptacles hemispheric to narrowly columnar or conic, paleate; paleae ± folded (carinate, each with central, red-brown resin duct). Ray florets 12–18+, neuter or styliferous and sterile; corollas orange, yellow, or white with yellow bases, laminae ± oblong (spreading to reflexed, ± marcescent). Disc florets 40–150[–200+], bisexual, fertile; corollas orange or yellow, tubes ± cylindric (bases saccate, each obliquely spurred, adaxially clasping distal 0.5+ of cypsela), throats campanulate to funnelform, lobes 5, deltate (apices minutely crested or dilated). Cypselae ± obovoid (apices oblique), weakly flattened (stylopodia sublateral), ribs or nerves (weak): 2 lateral, 1 adaxial, faces finely striate, glabrous [hairy] (pericarps with myxogenic cells in longitudinal rows, without resin sacs); pappi 0. x = 9.

Distribution

s Europe, sw Asia, n Africa, introduced also in South America, elsewhere in Old World.

Discussion

Species ca. 5 (1 in the flora).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Cladanthus mixtus