Callistemma Cassini.

Herbs, annual or biennial. Leaves alternate, cauline, margin serrate or lobed. Capitula large, radiate, solitary, terminal on stem and at branch ends. Involucre hemispheric; phyllaries 2- or 3-seriate, imbricate, outer series large, leaflike, inner shorter, scarious. Receptacles flat or subconvex, alveolate, short paleae sometimes present. Ray florets 1- or 2-seriate, lamina usually red-purple, entire or shallowly 2-toothed at apex; disk florets bisexual, numerous, yellow, limb campanulate, shallowly 5-lobed; anther base obtuse, entire; style branches flattened, appendages triangular-lanceolate. Achenes oblanceoloid, slightly compressed, strigillose, sparsely, minutely stipitate glandular, 2-ribbed, 1 vein per side. Pappus 3-seriate, outer of persistent, short scales, inner 2 of deciduous, long, barbellate bristles.

One species: China, Japan, Korea, also widely cultivated.

(Authors: Chen Yilin (陈艺林 Chen Yi-ling); Luc Brouillet)