Capitula 3-4.5(-6) mm in diam., heterogamous, globose, sessile, compactly congested in 2s-4s in bifurcations of stem and its branches. Involucre distichous; phyllaries of various forms, lanceolate, oval, rhomboidal, or obovate, membranous, margin transparent, with fine denticles, apex acute. Receptacle flat with paleae. External florets multiseriate, female, carpogenous, tubular; corolla filiform, irregular, sometimes subregular, tridentate, more rarely bidentate, sometimes 4-dentate; ovary adnate to neighboring palea of receptacle almost to half of its length, without pappus, stigma bipartite; marginal female florets minutely radiate with tridentate or bidentate corolla. Central florets 6-20, bisexual, carpogenous, tubular; corolla campanulate, regular, 4-dentate; anthers with very short entire appendages at base; ovary oblong, adnate to 2 neighboring membranes or to 1 membrane of receptacle, more rarely not adnate. Achenes finely terete, smooth, with fine orbicular glands and sparse long glandular hairs, forked at ends. Pappus absent.

GENERA INCERTAE SEDIS

Symphyllocarpus has been associated with the Inuleae in the older literature, but it is unlikely to be a member of that tribe and is currently of unknown placement (Jeffrey in Kadereit & C. Jeffrey, Fam. Gen. Vasc. Pl. 8: 574. 2007).

One species: China, Russia.

(Authors: Chen Yousheng (陈又生); Arne A. Anderberg)