The genus Asteriscus (Asteraceae-Inuleae)

Asteriscus Mill. is a genus belonging to the Inula -group of the Asteraceae-Inuleae. It is here delimited to contain three species, A. maritimus (L.) Less., A. hierochunticus (Michon) Wikl. (generally known as A. pygmaeus (DC.) Coss & Dur.) and A. spinosus (L.) Sch. Bip. (generally known as Pallenis spinosa (L.) Cass.), growing largely in the Mediterranean and N African regions. The morphology, phytogeography, phylogeny and systematic position of all three species are discussed and a cladogram of the genus is presented.