Description: Annual or perennial herbs or undershrubs.
Leaves alternate, toothed to pinnatisect.
Heads solitary, terminal or in a lax panicle; involucral bracts 5–7-seriate, free, outer usually with brown margin, inner or all with membranous margin, glabrous; receptacle flat or convex, scales surrounding disc florets. Ray florets ligulate, neuter, rounded or 2–3-toothed. Disc florets tubular, 5-toothed, bisexual, fertile or functionally male. Anthers obtuse at base, with apical appendage. Style branches oblong, flattened, pencillate; inner styles sometimes ± entire.
Achenes subterete, ribbed; pappus of a few broad, occasionally fringed scales, sometimes with an inner series of 4 or 5 bristles or slender scales.
Distribution and occurrence: World: 40 species, southern Africa. Australia: 2 species (naturalized), N.S.W., W.A.
Text by J. A. Scott
Taxon concept:
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