Asanthus Explained

Asanthus is a small genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae, found only in northern Mexico and the southwestern United States.^{[1] [2]}

Each of the species was originally named as a member of Brickellia, and later transferred when King and Robinson named the genus.^[3] Asanthus and Brickellia both have cypsela (achenes) with 10 ribs, but in Asanthus the style is glabrous and narrow at the base whereas in Brickellia the style has a pubescent, enlarged base. Molecular phylogenetic analysis has provided support that the two genera represent phylogenetically distinct lineages and thus should be recognized as distinct.^[4]

The genus is named for American botanist Asa Gray, 1810–1888. His name is added to the Greek word "anthos" meaning "flower."^[5]

Species^[6]

• Asanthus solidaginifolius (A.Gray) R.M.King & H.Rob. - Chihuahua, Durango
• Asanthus squamulosus (A.Gray) R.M.King & H.Rob. - Chihuahua, Durango, San Luis Potosí, Arizona, New Mexico^[7]
• Asanthus thyrsiflorus (A.Gray) R.M.King & H.Rob. (misspelled as Asanthus thrysiflorus when first published)^[8] - San Luis Potosí, Coahuila, Chihuahua, Zacatecas, Durango, Jalisco, Aguascalientes

Notes and References

1. D.J.N.Hind & H.E.Robinson. 2007. Tribe Eupatorieae In: The Families and Genera of Vascular Plants vol.VIII. (Joachim W.Kadereit & Charles Jeffrey, volume editors. Klaus Kubitzky, general editor). Springer-Verlag. Berlin, Heidelberg.
2. http://www.tropicos.org/Name/40020456 Tropicos, Asanthus R.M. King & H. Rob.
3. R. M. King & H. Robinson. Phytologia 24(2): 66. 1972.
4. Schilling, E. E., J. L. Panero, B. S. Crozier & P. Davila. 2013. Relationships of Asanthus (Asteraceae, Eupatorieae). Systematic Botany 38: 253-258.
5. http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=102751 Flora of North America, Asanthus R. M. King & H. Robinson
6. https://archive.today/20141108121231/http://dixon.iplantcollaborative.org/CompositaeWeb/default.aspx?Page=NameDetails&TabNum=0&NameId=1aafc4fd-40fa-49c5-bf62-82a236236a2d Flann, C (ed) 2009+ Global Compositae Checklist
7. http://wnmu.edu/academic/nspages/gilaflora/asanthus_squamulosus.html Vascular Plants of the Gila Wilderness, Asanthus squamulosus (Gray) King & H.E. Robinson (Scaleleaf Brickellbush, Mule Mountain Brickellbush)
8. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/13126951#page/76/mode/1up King, Robert Merrill & Robinson, Harold Ernest. 1972. Studies in the Eupatorieae (Asteraceae) LXXIX: a new genus, Asanthus. Phytologia 24(2):65- 66