Annuals [perennials], 2–25(–40) cm. Stems 1–5+, erect, usually branched near bases, glabrous. Leaves cauline; alternate; petiolate or sessile; blades obovate or oblong to lanceolate or linear (bases sometimes clasping), usually irregularly 1-pinnately lobed or toothed, ultimate margins toothed or entire, faces glabrous (minutely gland-dotted abaxially). Heads radiate, borne singly or in open, corymbiform arrays. Involucres ± hemispheric, 8–12(–15+) mm diam. Phyllaries persistent, 25–40+ in 3–4 series, distinct, ovate or oblong to lance-deltate or lanceolate (not carinate), unequal, margins and apices (pale brown to black) scarious. Receptacles ± conic, epaleate. Ray florets 10–21+, pistillate and fertile, or styliferous and sterile; corollas mostly white (usually yellowish at bases, drying pinkish), laminae oblong to ovate. Disc florets 60–100+, bisexual, fertile; corollas ± yellow, tubes ± cylindric (basally dilated, not gland-dotted), throats ± campanulate, lobes (2–)5, deltate (without resin sacs). Cypselae mostly columnar to obovoid or fusiform, outer sometimes 3-angled, ribs 7–10, faces glabrous (pericarps with myxogenic cells on ribs and resin sacs between ribs); pappi 0 (sterile ovaries of rays usually with apical coronas). x = 9.

Distribution

Introduced; sw Europe, n Africa.

Discussion

Species ca. 4 (1 in the flora).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Mauranthemum paludosum