Malacothrix is a genus of plants in the tribe Cichorieae within the family Asteraceae.[2][3] They are known generally as desert dandelions or desertdandelions. Most are native to western North America although a few have been introduced to South America. Several are found only on offshore islands in the Pacific.[4]

Malacothrix
Malacothrix saxatilis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Subfamily: Cichorioideae
Tribe: Cichorieae
Subtribe: Microseridinae
Genus: Malacothrix
DC.
Synonyms[1]
  • Leucoseris Nutt.
  • Malacomeris Nutt.
  • Malacolepis A.Heller

Phylogenetic analysis demonstrates that Malacothrix is not monophyletic. Some of its species are related to Atrichoseris, whereas a second group is more closely related to Anisocoma and Calycoseris.[5]

Species[1]
  1. Malacothrix californica - California desertdandelion - CA Baja California, Baja California Sur
  2. Malacothrix clevelandii - Cleveland's desertdandelion - CA AZ UT Baja California
  3. Malacothrix coulteri - snake's head - CA NV AZ UT NM Baja California
  4. Malacothrix fendleri - Fendler's desertdandelion - AZ NM TX Sonora
  5. Malacothrix floccifera - woolly desertdandelion - CA NV
  6. Malacothrix foliosa - leafy desertdandelion - San Clemente Island
  7. Malacothrix glabrata - smooth desertdandelion - CA NV AZ NM ID OR Baja California, Baja California Sur
  8. Malacothrix incana - dunedelion - CA
  9. Malacothrix indecora - Santa Cruz Island desert-dandelion - Santa Cruz Island
  10. Malacothrix insularis - island desertdandelion - Coronados Island in Baja California
  11. Malacothrix junakii - Junak's desertdandelion - Anacapa Island
  12. Malacothrix phaeocarpa - Davis' desertdandelion - CA
  13. Malacothrix saxatilis - cliff desertdandelion - CA
  14. Malacothrix similis - twin desertdandelion - CA Baja California
  15. Malacothrix sonchoides - sowthistle desertdandelion - OR ID WY CO NM AZ UT NV CA
  16. Malacothrix sonorae - Sonoran desertdandelion - Sonora AZ NM TX
  17. Malacothrix squalida - Santa Cruz desertdandelion - Santa Cruz Island
  18. Malacothrix stebbinsii - Stebbins' desertdandelion - OR CA NV AZ NM UT Sonora
  19. Malacothrix torreyi - Torrey's desertdandelion - CA NV AZ NM UT CO WY ID MT OR
  20. Malacothrix xanthi - Baja California, Baja California Sur

References

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