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Calycera: An Overview

The genus Calycera belongs to the family Calyceraceae, a group within the Angiosperms (flowering plants).

Some species of Calycera, such as Calycera crassifolia, are described as somewhat fleshy, which may be attractive to animals that like to chew on plants.

Scientific Name: Calycera Cav.
Family: Calyceraceae
Kingdom: Plantae
Rank: Genus
Synonyms: Calycera Cav. is listed as a synonym for itself, indicating it is the accepted name.
Other combinations: Calycera viridiflora fo. sinuata (Miers) Hicken for Calycera sinuata Miers.

Calycera species are native to temperate South America, mainly from Bolivia to southern Patagonia.
Specific countries mentioned include:
- Argentina (Buenos Aires, Chubut, La Pampa, Mendoza, Neuquen, Rio Negro, Santa Cruz, Santa Fe)
- Uruguay (Canelones, Maldonado)
- Chile (Middle and South America)

Some Calycera species, like Calycera herbacea, exhibit an erect habit, reaching 20-30cm high when in bloom.
They often form basal rosettes in tufts arising from a stout, tough, elastic rootstock.
Leaves can vary from lanceolate to spathulate, with toothed margins and long petioles.
Calycera herbacea is also described as a perennial herb native to Argentina and Uruguay, with a creeping growth habit, reaching a height of approximately 15 to 35 centimeters.

The chloroplast genome of Calycera crassifolia has been partially sequenced, with specific genes like AtpB (atpB) and maturase K (matK) identified. For example, Calycera crassifolia AtpB (atpB) gene has a complete cds chloroplast sequence of 1,497 bp linear DNA (KM191991.1 GI:675304456).

Some Calycera pulvinata plants grow with rhizosheaths, where sand adheres to the roots via mucilage, a typical adaptation for plants in sandy environments. Some might be protected with fences and watered.