Carphephorus

{{Short description|Genus of flowering plants}}

{{Automatic taxobox

|image = Florida paintbrush (Carphephorus corymbosus) (6256923212).jpg

|image_caption = Carphephorus corymbosus

|display_parents = 2

|taxon = Carphephorus

|authority = Cass.

|type_species = Carphephorus pseudoliatris

|type_species_authority = Cass.

}}

Carphephorus is a genus of North American plants in the family Asteraceae.[https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/4439889#page/202/mode/1up Cassini, Alexandre Henri Gabriel de. 1816. Bulletin des Sciences, par la Societe Philomatique 1816: 198] in French They are native to the southeastern United States from Louisiana to Virginia.{{cite web | url = http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=105698 | title = Carphephorus Cassini | work = Flora of North America }} Plants of this genus are known commonly as chaffheads.[https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=36939 Carpephorus.] Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS).

Description

These are perennial plants that grow from a caudex and fibrous root system. The stems are erect and unbranched, usually reaching 20 to 60 centimeters (8-24 inches) in height, and taller at times. The leaves are alternately arranged and point upward, sometimes pressed against the stem. The blades vary in shape and are hairy to hairless and generally glandular. The flower heads are borne in open inflorescences. Each head contains up to about 35 disc florets, usually lavender to dark magenta or pinkish purple, sometimes blue. The fruit is a ribbed, rough-textured cypsela with a pappus of bristles.

Classification

Some authors separate certain species into separate genera, Trilisa and Litrisa, on the basis of certain floral characters. The species are similar enough in other aspects that other authors maintain them in Carphephorus. Molecular data may support the separation of at least some of the taxa.{{Cite conference |url=http://2001.botanyconference.org/section12/abstracts/98.shtml |title=Systematic analysis of Liatrinae (Asteraceae) |author=Schilling, E. E. |author2=P. B. Cox |book-title=Botany 2001 Abstracts |publisher=Botanical Society of America |year=2001}}

Carphephorus is in the tribe Eupatorieae of the aster family. Like other members of this tribe, the flower heads have disc florets and no ray florets. It is also in the subtribe Liatrinae along with, for example, Liatris and Garberia.{{cite web | url = http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=113251 | work = Flora of North America | title = Garberia A.Gray }}

;Species and varieties[https://archive.today/20141112001643/http://dixon.iplantcollaborative.org/CompositaeWeb/default.aspx?Page=NameDetails&TabNum=0&NameId=a583ea3f-f0e3-4cc3-bb13-034d0bb8643d Flann, C (ed) 2009+ Global Compositae Checklist ][http://bonap.net/NAPA/TaxonMaps/Genus/County/Carphephorus Biota of North America Program 2013 county distribution maps]

;Formerly included

Biochemistry

A number of species contain volatile oils, giving characteristic odors.Karlsson, K. et al. (1972). [http://actachemscand.org/pdf/acta_vol_26_p3839-3848.pdf Volatile constituents of Carphephorus corymbosus and Carphephorus paniculatus.] Acta Chemica Scandinavica 26(10) 3839–48. {{ISSN|0001-5393}}{{cite journal | pmid = 4650326 | year = 1972 | author = Karlsson, K.| title = Volatile constituents of Carphephorus odoratissimus (J.F. Gmel) Hebert. | volume = 26 | issue = 7 | pages = 2837–46 | issn = 0001-5393 | journal = Acta Chemica Scandinavica | doi=10.3891/acta.chem.scand.26-2837|display-authors=etal| doi-access = free }}

References