Pittocaulon
Encyclopedia
Pittocaulon is a genus
of the tribe Senecioneae
and the family Asteraceae
. Most if not all of its members used to be Senecio
.
The five species of this genus have been described as "strange shrubs and small trees with broomstick-like branches". All five species are native to the dry parts of central and southern Mexico. In addition to the strange appearance of these plants, Pittocaulon is of interest due to the remarkable range of habitats in which the species occur, from dry highland scrub well above 3000 meters, to tropical dry forest in hot country as low as 300 meters and on rocks, often in very steep situations. Pittocaulon species are conspicuous (crazy) when they flower at the end of the dry season are popularly called "palo loco" or "crazy tree", because they flower at the very end of the dry season when most other plants are suffering the effects of drought.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of the tribe Senecioneae
Senecioneae
Senecioneae is the largest tribe of the Asteraceae, or the sunflower family, comprising approximately 150 genera and 3,000 species. Almost one-third of the species in this tribe are placed in the genus Senecio...
and the family Asteraceae
Asteraceae
The Asteraceae or Compositae , is an exceedingly large and widespread family of vascular plants. The group has more than 22,750 currently accepted species, spread across 1620 genera and 12 subfamilies...
. Most if not all of its members used to be Senecio
Senecio
Senecio is a genus of the daisy family that includes ragworts and groundsels. The flower heads are normally rayed, completely yellow, and the heads are borne in branched clusters...
.
The five species of this genus have been described as "strange shrubs and small trees with broomstick-like branches". All five species are native to the dry parts of central and southern Mexico. In addition to the strange appearance of these plants, Pittocaulon is of interest due to the remarkable range of habitats in which the species occur, from dry highland scrub well above 3000 meters, to tropical dry forest in hot country as low as 300 meters and on rocks, often in very steep situations. Pittocaulon species are conspicuous (crazy) when they flower at the end of the dry season are popularly called "palo loco" or "crazy tree", because they flower at the very end of the dry season when most other plants are suffering the effects of drought.
Species
- Pittocaulon bombycophole (Bullock) H.Rob. & Brettell
- Pittocaulon calzadanum B.L.Turner
- Pittocaulon filare (McVaugh) H.Rob. & Brettell
- Pittocaulon hintonii H.Rob. & Brettell
- Pittocaulon praecoxPittocaulon praecoxPittocaulon praecox is the type species for the genus Pittocaulon and family Asteraceae. This species also has the widest range of the genus....
(Cav.) H.Rob. & Brettell - Pittocaulon velatum (Greenm.) H.Rob. & Brettell