''Pteronia'' ("resin daisies") is a genus of

evergreen In botany, an evergreen is a plant which has Leaf, foliage that remains green and functional throughout the year. This contrasts with deciduous plants, which lose their foliage completely during the winter or dry season. Consisting of many diffe ...

, woody

perennial plant In horticulture, the term perennial (''wikt:per-#Prefix, per-'' + ''wikt:-ennial#Suffix, -ennial'', "through the year") is used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annual plant, annuals and biennial plant, biennials. It has thus been d ...

s assigned to the family

Asteraceae Asteraceae () is a large family (biology), family of flowering plants that consists of over 32,000 known species in over 1,900 genera within the Order (biology), order Asterales. The number of species in Asteraceae is rivaled only by the Orchi ...

with currently 76 described species. Like in almost all Asteraceae, the individual flowers are

5-merous Merosity (from the greek "méros," which means "having parts")) refers to the number of component parts in a distinct whorl of a plant structure. The term is most commonly used in the context of a flower where it refers to the number of sepals in a ...

, small and clustered in typical heads, surrounded by an

involucre In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis or cone scale. Bracts are usually different from foliage leaves in size, color, shape or texture. They also look ...

bract In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis or cone scale. Bracts are usually different from foliage leaves in size, color, shape or texture. They also lo ...

s. In ''Pteronia'', the centre of the head is taken by relatively few, yellow,

disc florets Disc or disk may refer to: * Disk (mathematics), a two dimensional shape, the interior of a circle * Disk storage * Optical disc * Floppy disk Music * Disc (band), an American experimental music band * ''Disk'' (album), a 1995 EP by Moby Other ...

, while a ring of ligulate florets is absent. These florets sit on a common base (or receptacle).

Taxonomy

A species of Gombos was first described and assigned to the new genus ''Pteronia'' by the famous Swedish naturalist

Carl Linnaeus Carl Linnaeus (23 May 1707 – 10 January 1778), also known after ennoblement in 1761 as Carl von Linné,#Blunt, Blunt (2004), p. 171. was a Swedish biologist and physician who formalised binomial nomenclature, the modern system of naming o ...

in the second edition of his groundbreaking

Species Plantarum ' (Latin for "The Species of Plants") is a book by Carl Linnaeus, originally published in 1753, which lists every species of plant known at the time, classified into genus, genera. It is the first work to consistently apply binomial nomenclature ...

, the starting point of modern botanical nomenclature, that was published in 1763. He had not seen living plants or dried herbarium specimens, but based his description on an etching made by the English botanist

Leonard Plukenet Leonard Plukenet (1641–1706) was an English botanist, Royal Professor of Botany and gardener to Queen Mary. Biography Plukenet published ''Phytographia'' (London, 1691–1696) in four parts in which he described and illustrated rare exotic p ...

in 1700. This etching probably represents ''

Pteronia camphorata ''Pteronia'' ("resin daisies") is a genus of evergreen, woody perennial plants assigned to the family Asteraceae with currently 76 described species. Like in almost all Asteraceae, the individual flowers are 5-merous, small and clustered in typic ...

'', which has been chosen as

type species In International_Code_of_Zoological_Nomenclature, zoological nomenclature, a type species (''species typica'') is the species name with which the name of a genus or subgenus is considered to be permanently taxonomically associated, i.e., the spe ...

of the genus. In 1917, John Hutchinson and

Edwin Percy Phillips Edwin Percy Phillips (18 February 1884 – 12 April 1967) was a South African botanist and taxonomist, noted for his monumental work ''The Genera of South African Flowering Plants'' first published in 1926. Phillips was born in Sea Point, C ...

revised the genus and recognised 61 species.

Description

Gombos species are all evergreen, woody perennial plants of high that often contain aromatic substances. It mostly has hairless or variably hairy or

glandular A gland is a cell or an organ in an animal's body that produces and secretes different substances that the organism needs, either into the bloodstream or into a body cavity or outer surface. A gland may also function to remove unwanted substance ...

, wand-like (or

virgate The virgate, yardland, or yard of land ( was an English unit of land. Primarily a measure of tax assessment rather than area, the virgate was usually (but not always) reckoned as hide and notionally (but seldom exactly) equal to 30 acr ...

) branches, but sometimes the branches have wider angles (or

divaricate Divaricate means branching, or having separation or a degree of separation. The angle between branches is wide. In botany In botany, the term is often used to describe the branching pattern of plants. Plants are said to be divaricating when th ...

). The leaves are mostly arranged in a cross, in some in a spiral or alternate, and rarely

opposite In lexical semantics, opposites are words lying in an inherently incompatible binary relationship. For example, something that is ''even'' entails that it is not ''odd''. It is referred to as a 'binary' relationship because there are two members i ...

and may also be hairless, variously hairy and glandular, or have a row of hairs around the margin.

Ecology

Gombos species can mostly be found in dry habitats.

Distribution

The species of ''Pteronia'' can be found in Botswana, Eswatini, Mozambique, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. About 50 species occur in the

Cape Floristic Region The Cape Floral Region is a floristic region located near the southern tip of South Africa. It is the only floristic region of the Cape Floristic Kingdom, and includes only one floristic province, known as the Cape Floristic Province. The Cap ...

, particularly in the

Succulent Karoo The Succulent Karoo is an terrestrial ecoregion, ecoregion defined by the World Wide Fund for Nature to include regions of deserts and xeric shrublands, desert in South Africa and Namibia, and a biodiversity hotspot. The geographic area chosen ...

and to a lesser extend in the

Nama Karoo Nama Karoo is a xeric shrubland ecoregion located on the central plateau of South Africa and Namibia. It occupies most of the interior of the western half of South Africa and extends into the southern interior of Namibia. Climate The climate o ...

biome A biome () is a distinct geographical region with specific climate, vegetation, and animal life. It consists of a biological community that has formed in response to its physical environment and regional climate. In 1935, Tansley added the ...

s. In Namibia 24 species are found.

Species list

It contains the following species: *''

Pteronia acuminata ''Pteronia'' ("resin daisies") is a genus of evergreen, woody perennial plants assigned to the family Asteraceae with currently 76 described species. Like in almost all Asteraceae, the individual flowers are 5-merous, small and clustered in typi ...

'' *''

Pteronia acuta ''Pteronia'' ("resin daisies") is a genus of evergreen, woody perennial plants assigned to the family Asteraceae with currently 76 described species. Like in almost all Asteraceae, the individual flowers are 5-merous, small and clustered in typi ...

'' *''

Pteronia adenocarpa ''Pteronia'' ("resin daisies") is a genus of evergreen, woody perennial plants assigned to the family Asteraceae with currently 76 described species. Like in almost all Asteraceae, the individual flowers are 5-merous, small and clustered in typi ...

'' *''

Pteronia ambrariifolia ''Pteronia'' ("resin daisies") is a genus of evergreen, woody perennial plants assigned to the family Asteraceae with currently 76 described species. Like in almost all Asteraceae, the individual flowers are 5-merous, small and clustered in typi ...

'' *''

Pteronia anisata ''Pteronia'' ("resin daisies") is a genus of evergreen, woody perennial plants assigned to the family Asteraceae with currently 76 described species. Like in almost all Asteraceae, the individual flowers are 5-merous, small and clustered in typi ...

'' *''

Pteronia aspalatha ''Pteronia'' ("resin daisies") is a genus of evergreen, woody perennial plants assigned to the family Asteraceae with currently 76 described species. Like in almost all Asteraceae, the individual flowers are 5-merous, small and clustered in typi ...

'' *''

Pteronia beckeoides ''Pteronia'' ("resin daisies") is a genus of evergreen, woody perennial plants assigned to the family Asteraceae with currently 76 described species. Like in almost all Asteraceae, the individual flowers are 5-merous, small and clustered in typic ...

'' *'' Pteronia bolusii'' *'' Pteronia callosa'' *''

'' *'' Pteronia centauroides'' *''

Pteronia ciliata ''Pteronia'' ("resin daisies") is a genus of evergreen, woody perennial plants assigned to the family Asteraceae with currently 76 described species. Like in almost all Asteraceae, the individual flowers are 5-merous, small and clustered in typic ...

'' *''

Pteronia cinerea ''Pteronia'' ("resin daisies") is a genus of evergreen, woody perennial plants assigned to the family Asteraceae with currently 76 described species. Like in almost all Asteraceae, the individual flowers are 5-merous, small and clustered in typic ...

'' *'' Pteronia cylindracea'' *''

Pteronia diosmifolia ''Pteronia'' ("resin daisies") is a genus of evergreen, woody perennial plants assigned to the family Asteraceae with currently 76 described species. Like in almost all Asteraceae, the individual flowers are 5-merous, small and clustered in typic ...

'' *''

Pteronia divaricata ''Pteronia'' ("resin daisies") is a genus of evergreen, woody perennial plants assigned to the family Asteraceae with currently 76 described species. Like in almost all Asteraceae, the individual flowers are 5-merous, small and clustered in typic ...

'' *''

Pteronia eenii ''Pteronia'' ("resin daisies") is a genus of evergreen, woody perennial plants assigned to the family Asteraceae with currently 76 described species. Like in almost all Asteraceae, the individual flowers are 5-merous, small and clustered in typic ...

'' *'' Pteronia elata'' *'' Pteronia elongata'' *''

Pteronia empetrifolia ''Pteronia'' ("resin daisies") is a genus of evergreen, woody perennial plants assigned to the family Asteraceae with currently 76 described species. Like in almost all Asteraceae, the individual flowers are Merosity, 5-merous, small and clustere ...

'' *'' Pteronia erythrochaeta'' *'' Pteronia fasciculata'', Paraffienbos *''

Pteronia fastigiata ''Pteronia'' ("resin daisies") is a genus of evergreen, woody perennial plants assigned to the family Asteraceae with currently 76 described species. Like in almost all Asteraceae, the individual flowers are 5-merous, small and clustered in typic ...

'' *'' Pteronia flexicaulis'' *'' Pteronia foleyi'' *'' Pteronia glabrata'' *''

Pteronia glauca ''Pteronia glauca'' ("Geelboegoekaroo") is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, indigenous to the Karoo regions of South Africa. Description A shrub of roughly 60 cm, usually with downwards-drooping outer branches (especia ...

'', Geelboegoekaroo *'' Pteronia glaucescens'' *''

Pteronia glomerata ''Pteronia'' ("resin daisies") is a genus of evergreen, woody perennial plants assigned to the family Asteraceae with currently 76 described species. Like in almost all Asteraceae, the individual flowers are 5-merous, small and clustered in typic ...

'' *''

Pteronia gymnocline ''Pteronia'' ("resin daisies") is a genus of evergreen, woody perennial plants assigned to the family Asteraceae with currently 76 described species. Like in almost all Asteraceae, the individual flowers are 5-merous, small and clustered in typic ...

'' *'' Pteronia heterocarpa'' *'' Pteronia hirsuta'' *'' Pteronia hutchinsoniana'' *''

Pteronia incana ''Pteronia incana'' ("Asbos" or "ash-bush") is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, indigenous to the Karoo regions of South Africa. Description This species has small, light grey, woolly, fragrant leaves, and forms a low, de ...

'', Asbos *'' Pteronia inflexa'' *'' Pteronia intermedia'' *''

Pteronia leptospermoides ''Pteronia'' ("resin daisies") is a genus of evergreen, woody perennial plants assigned to the family Asteraceae with currently 76 described species. Like in almost all Asteraceae, the individual flowers are 5-merous, small and clustered in typic ...

'' *'' Pteronia leucoclada'' *''

Pteronia leucoloma ''Pteronia'' ("resin daisies") is a genus of evergreen, woody perennial plants assigned to the family Asteraceae with currently 76 described species. Like in almost all Asteraceae, the individual flowers are Merosity, 5-merous, small and clustere ...

'' *'' Pteronia lucilioides'' *''

Pteronia membranacea ''Pteronia'' ("resin daisies") is a genus of evergreen, woody perennial plants assigned to the family Asteraceae with currently 76 described species. Like in almost all Asteraceae, the individual flowers are 5-merous, small and clustered in typic ...

'' *''

Pteronia mooreiana ''Pteronia'' ("resin daisies") is a genus of evergreen, woody perennial plants assigned to the family Asteraceae with currently 76 described species. Like in almost all Asteraceae, the individual flowers are 5-merous, small and clustered in typic ...

'' *''

Pteronia mucronata ''Pteronia'' ("resin daisies") is a genus of evergreen, woody perennial plants assigned to the family Asteraceae with currently 76 described species. Like in almost all Asteraceae, the individual flowers are 5-merous, small and clustered in typic ...

'' *''

Pteronia oblanceolata ''Pteronia'' ("resin daisies") is a genus of evergreen, woody perennial plants assigned to the family Asteraceae with currently 76 described species. Like in almost all Asteraceae, the individual flowers are 5-merous, small and clustered in typic ...

'' *''

Pteronia onobromoides ''Pteronia'' ("resin daisies") is a genus of evergreen, woody perennial plants assigned to the family Asteraceae with currently 76 described species. Like in almost all Asteraceae, the individual flowers are 5-merous, small and clustered in typic ...

'', Boegoebos *'' Pteronia oppositifolia'' *''

Pteronia ovalifolia ''Pteronia'' ("resin daisies") is a genus of evergreen, woody perennial plants assigned to the family Asteraceae with currently 76 described species. Like in almost all Asteraceae, the individual flowers are 5-merous, small and clustered in typic ...

'' *''

Pteronia pallens ''Pteronia pallens'' ("Scholtzbos" or "Aasvoëlbos / Witbas") is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, indigenous to the Karoo regions of South Africa. Its natural habitat is dry, rocky slopes. It often cooccurs with its close re ...

'', Scholtzbos *''

Pteronia paniculata ''Pteronia paniculata'' ("Gombos" or "gum-bush") is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, indigenous to the Karoo regions of South Africa. Description This aromatic species has sticky leaves but, unlike some other ''Pteronia'' ...

'', Gombos *'' Pteronia pillansii'' *''

Pteronia polygalifolia ''Pteronia'' ("resin daisies") is a genus of evergreen, woody perennial plants assigned to the family Asteraceae with currently 76 described species. Like in almost all Asteraceae, the individual flowers are 5-merous, small and clustered in typic ...

'' *'' Pteronia pomonae'' *''

Pteronia punctata ''Pteronia'' ("resin daisies") is a genus of evergreen, woody perennial plants assigned to the family Asteraceae with currently 76 described species. Like in almost all Asteraceae, the individual flowers are 5-merous, small and clustered in typic ...

'' *'' Pteronia quinqueflora'' *'' Pteronia rangei'' *''

Pteronia scabra ''Pteronia'' ("resin daisies") is a genus of evergreen, woody perennial plants assigned to the family Asteraceae with currently 76 described species. Like in almost all Asteraceae, the individual flowers are 5-merous, small and clustered in typic ...

'' *''

Pteronia scariosa ''Pteronia'' ("resin daisies") is a genus of evergreen, woody perennial plants assigned to the family Asteraceae with currently 76 described species. Like in almost all Asteraceae, the individual flowers are 5-merous, small and clustered in typic ...

'' *''

Pteronia smutsii ''Pteronia'' ("resin daisies") is a genus of evergreen, woody perennial plants assigned to the family Asteraceae with currently 76 described species. Like in almost all Asteraceae, the individual flowers are 5-merous, small and clustered in typic ...

'' *''

Pteronia sordida ''Pteronia'' ("resin daisies") is a genus of evergreen, woody perennial plants assigned to the family Asteraceae with currently 76 described species. Like in almost all Asteraceae, the individual flowers are 5-merous, small and clustered in typic ...

'' *'' Pteronia spinulosa'' *''

Pteronia stoehelinoides ''Pteronia'' ("resin daisies") is a genus of evergreen, woody perennial plants assigned to the family Asteraceae with currently 76 described species. Like in almost all Asteraceae, the individual flowers are 5-merous, small and clustered in typic ...

'' *''

Pteronia stricta ''Pteronia'' ("resin daisies") is a genus of evergreen, woody perennial plants assigned to the family Asteraceae with currently 76 described species. Like in almost all Asteraceae, the individual flowers are 5-merous, small and clustered in typic ...

'' *'' Pteronia succulenta'' *''

Pteronia tenuifolia ''Pteronia'' ("resin daisies") is a genus of evergreen, woody perennial plants assigned to the family Asteraceae with currently 76 described species. Like in almost all Asteraceae, the individual flowers are Merosity, 5-merous, small and clustere ...

'' *'' Pteronia teretifolia'' *''

Pteronia tricephala ''Pteronia'' ("resin daisies") is a genus of evergreen, woody perennial plants assigned to the family Asteraceae with currently 76 described species. Like in almost all Asteraceae, the individual flowers are 5-merous, small and clustered in typic ...

'' *'' Pteronia uncinata'' *''

Pteronia undulata ''Pteronia'' ("resin daisies") is a genus of evergreen, woody perennial plants assigned to the family Asteraceae with currently 76 described species. Like in almost all Asteraceae, the individual flowers are 5-merous, small and clustered in typic ...

'' *''

Pteronia unguiculata ''Pteronia'' ("resin daisies") is a genus of evergreen, woody perennial plants assigned to the family Asteraceae with currently 76 described species. Like in almost all Asteraceae, the individual flowers are 5-merous, small and clustered in typi ...

'' *'' Pteronia utilis'' *''

Pteronia villosa ''Pteronia villosa'' is a species of evergreen, woody, perennial plants in the genus ''Pteronia''. It is endemic to the Namaqualand region of Southern Africa. Distribution ''Pteronia villosa'' is found in Namibia and the Northern Cape . Cons ...

'' *'' Pteronia viscosa''

Gallery

File:Pteronia paniculata - Ashton - b.jpg, ''

'' ("Gombos") File:2 Pteronia pallens - flower detail - Matjiesfontein.jpg, ''

'' ("Scholtzbos") File:Pteronia fasciculata - Paraffienbos detail.jpg, '' Pteronia fasciculata'' ("Paraffienbos") File:Pteronia incana - Asbos detail.jpg, ''

'' ("Asbos") File:Pteronia uncinata - Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens 1 - Copy.jpg, '' Pteronia uncinata''

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q508116 Asteraceae genera Taxonomy articles created by Polbot