SafePlants

Coreocarpus: A Botanical Overview

Coreocarpus is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the daisy family (Asteraceae). These plants are native to northwestern Mexico and southern Arizona.

Considerations for Pets

• The text mentions that Coreocarpus parthenioides resembles species of Parthenium. Parthenium species are known to sometimes cause allergenic reactions in sensitive individuals and animals through contact or inhalation.

Scientific Classification

• Genus: Coreocarpus
• Family: Asteraceae (Daisy Family, also known as Compositae)
• Kingdom: Plantae
• Taxonomic Rank: Genus

Nomenclature and Synonyms

• The genus was established by George Bentham in 1844.
• The name Coreocarpus is derived from the Greek words "koreos" (bug) and "karpos" (fruit), referring to the pectinately winged cypselae (a type of dry single-seeded fruit) characteristic of the original species.
• Synonyms for specific species include:
  • Leptosyne arizonica A. Gray (for Coreocarpus arizonicus)
  • Coreocarpus shrevei Sherff (synonym of Coreocarpus parthenioides)

Species within Coreocarpus

• The genus Coreocarpus comprises nine species, as treated in some taxonomic studies, though other sources suggest varying numbers (e.g., 17 species described, 6 accepted).
• Examples of species include:
  • Coreocarpus arizonicus (A. Gray) S. F. Blake (Common name: Little Lemonhead)
  • Coreocarpus parthenioides Benth.
  • Coreocarpus sonoranus Sherff
  • Coreocarpus hintonii Sherff
  • Coreocarpus shrevei Sherff

Distribution and Habitat

• Coreocarpus species are primarily found in Mexico, with some species extending into the southern parts of Arizona, USA.
• Specifically, Coreocarpus arizonicus is native to northwestern Mexico and southern Arizona. A specimen was located in Salero Ranch, Santa Cruz County, Arizona, at 4300 ft elevation. It is also found in the Sonoran Desert.

Morphological Characteristics

• Coreocarpus parthenioides var. heterocarpus is described as an annual herb.
• Coreocarpus arizonicus is described as a native shrub.

Genetic Information

• Molecular phylogenetic studies have been conducted using nuclear (ITS) and plastid (rpl16 intron) DNA sequences to understand the relationships within the genus Coreocarpus.
• These studies have helped define a "core Coreocarpus" group of six species and shed light on the monophyletic nature of certain species groupings.
• Chromosome numbers have been reported for all recognized taxa as part of a biosystematic and morphological study.

Quirky Facts

• The common name for Coreocarpus arizonicus is "Little Lemonhead."
• The genus name refers to the pectinately winged cypselae, giving the fruit a "bug-like" appearance.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• Coreocarpus arizonicus is considered a great pollinator nectar plant.

Further Information

• USDA PLANTS Database: http://plants.usda.gov
• Arizona State University Herbarium specimens: http://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/taxa/index.php
• Encyclopedia of Life
• iNaturalist.org