| Malacothrix | |
|---|---|
| | |
| Malacothrix saxatilis | |
| Scientific 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] | |
| |
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]
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]