136. Neobrachyactis Brouillet, Fl. China. 20-21: 571. 2011.
短星菊属 duan xing ju shu
Authors: Yilin Chen & Luc Brouillet
Type: Neobrachyactis roylei (Candolle) Brouillet.
Herbae annuae vel perennes, stipitato-glandulosae; caules erecti vel ascendentes, simplices vel ramosi. Folia alterna, basalia et caulina, ad marginem serrata vel interdum integra. Capitula disciformia vel radiata, in synflorescentias racemo-paniculiformes disposita, raro ad foliorum superiorum axillas solitaria vel aggregata; involucrum hemisphaericum vel campanulatum; phyllaria 2- ad 4-seriata, subaequalia, lineari-lanceolata vel lineari-oblonga, membranacea vel exteriora foliacea, ad marginem scariosa, glandulosa; receptaculum planum, infirme alveolatum, nudum. Flosculi omnes fertiles; flosculi radii feminei, numerosi, biseriati, tubulosi vel breviter laminati, albi vel caerulescentes; flosculi disci bisexuales, minus numerosi, lutei vel incolorati, limbo breviter infundibuliformi, superne 5-lobo, lobis ovatis, antheris ad basin obtusatae, appendice apicali lanceolata, styli ramorum appendicibus triangulo-lanceolata. Achaenia oblanceolata, compressa, strigosa, ad marginem 2-costata; pappus biseriatus, setis exterioribus paucibus, brevibus, gracilibus, interioribus numerosis, luteis usque cinnamomeis, barbellatis, ad apicem acutis interdum leniter clavatis.
Herbs, annual or perennial. Stems erect to ascending or sometimes procumbent, often branching from base, stipitate glandular. Leaves basal and cauline, blade obovate to oblong-obovate or oblong-lanceolate, margin serrate or sometimes entire, ± densely glandular. Capitula radiate or disciform, in racemose-paniculiform synflorescences, rarely solitary or crowded in upper leaf axils. Involucre hemispheric or campanulate; phyllaries 2-4-seriate, subequal, membranous, outer leaflike, linear-oblong or linear-lanceolate, stipitate glandular, margins villous-ciliate, outer green except white margin, margin of inner narrowly scarious, erose, ± ciliate. Receptacles flat, weakly alveolate, glabrous. Florets fertile. Ray florets numerous, 2-seriate, white or bluish, reduced to tube or shortly laminate, tube shorter than style, apex ciliate, lamina, if present, filiform, exceeding style; disk florets bisexual, less numerous, yellow or uncolored, shorter than to ± equaling pappus, limb shortly funnelform, 5-lobed, lobes ovate, short; anther base obtuse, apical appendage lanceolate; style branch tips triangular-lanceolate. Achenes oblanceolate, flattened, long strigose, marginally 2-ribbed. Pappus 2-seriate, outer of few short, thin bristles, inner of numerous yellowish to cinnamon, barbellate bristles, apex acute or sometimes slightly clavate.
Three species: C, N, and S Asia; three species in China.
The genus Neobrachyactis is distinct from Brachyactis s.s., the type of which, B. ciliata (Ledebour) Ledebour (Erigeron ciliatus Ledebour), belongs to the North American genus Symphyotrichum. The notably glandular herbage and the compressed, 2-ribbed achenes clearly distinguish the species of Neobrachyactis from S. ciliatum.
