Pterocephalus Explained

Pterocephalus is a genus of flowering plants in the family Caprifoliaceae. It comprises 34 species of herbs and shrubs ranging from the Mediterranean to central Asia, the Himalayas, and tropical Africa.^[1]

From Greek πτερον, pteron, a wing, and κεφαλη, kephale, a head, in reference to the receptacle of the flowers being villous or chaffy.^[2]

Species

34 species are accepted.

• Pterocephalus afghanicus
• Pterocephalus arabicus
• Pterocephalus bellidifolius
• Pterocephalus brevis
• Pterocephalus canus
• Pterocephalus depressus
• Pterocephalus dumetorum - Mountain scabious
• Pterocephalus frutescens
• Pterocephalus fruticulosus
• Pterocephalus gedrosiacus
• Pterocephalus ghahremanii
• Pterocephalus glandulosissimus
• Pterocephalus khorassanicus
• Pterocephalus kurdicus
• Pterocephalus lasiospermus
• Pterocephalus laxus
• Pterocephalus lignosus
• Pterocephalus multiflorus
• Pterocephalus nestorianus
• Pterocephalus persicus
• Pterocephalus pinardii
• Pterocephalus plumosus
• Pterocephalus porphyranthus
• Pterocephalus pterocephala
• Pterocephalus pulverulentus
• Pterocephalus pyrethrifolius
• Pterocephalus ramianensis
• Pterocephalus sanctus
• Pterocephalus shepardii
• Pterocephalus spathulatus
• Pterocephalus strictus
• Pterocephalus szovitsii
• Pterocephalus virens
• Pterocephalus wendelboi

Formerly placed here

Pterothamnus centennii (as Pterocephalus centennii)^[3]

Notes and References

1. Book: Kriechbaum, Monika . Kletter, Christa . Tibetan medicinal plants . Medpharm . Stuttgart . 2001 . 270 . 0-8493-0031-2 .
2. Book: George Don Jr. . A general system of gardening and botany. Founded upon Miller's Gardener's dictionary, and arranged according to the natural system. volume III (Calyciflorae) . Gilbert and Rivington . 1834 . 688 .
3. https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77125837-1 Pterothamnus centennii (M.J.Cannon) V.Mayer & Ehrend.