Lessingia is a genus of plants in the family Asteraceae which are native to western North America. Several species are endemic to California.Chamisso, Ludolf Karl Adelbert von. 1829. Linnaea 4(2): plate II (2), figure 2 line drawings of Lessingia germanorumChamisso, Ludolf Karl Adelbert von. 1829. Linnaea 4(2): 203–204 in LatinLane, M. A. (1992). New combinations in Californian Lessingia (Compositae: Astereae). Novon 2:3 213-14.
Lessingias are generally daisy-like in appearance with white, yellow, or purple flowers, but they vary in appearance. Some lessingias are sometimes treated as members of different genera, such as Benitoa. The San Francisco lessingia, Lessingia germanorum, is an endangered species.Flora of North America Vol. 20 Page 452 Lessingia Chamisso, Linnaea. 4: 203, plate 2, fig. 2. 1829. Markos, S. and B. G. Baldwin. 2001. Higher-level relationships and major lineages of Lessingia (Compositae, Astereae) based on nuclear rDNA internal and external transcribed spacer (ITS and ETS) sequences. Systematic Botany 26: 168–183Markos, S. 2005. Taxonomic changes in Lessingia (Compositae: Astereae). Madroño 52: 60–61.
SpeciesThe Plant List search for Lessingia Image Scientific name Distribution Lessingia arachnoidea - Crystal Springs lessingia California (Sonoma, San Mateo, Santa Cruz Cos) Lessingia germanorum - San Francisco lessingia California (San Mateo Co) Lessingia glandulifera - valley lessingia California, Arizona, Nevada Lessingia hololeuca - woollyhead lessingia California (from Yolo + Sonoma Cos to Monterey Co) Lessingia lemmonii - Lemmon's lessingia Arizona, California Lessingia leptoclada - Sierra lessingia California (from Plumas Co to Los Angeles Co)Lessingia micradenia - Mt. Tamalpais lessingia California (Marin + Santa Clara Cos) Lessingia nana - dwarf lessingia California (From Tehama Co to Kern Co)Lessingia nemaclada - slenderstem lessingia California (From Siskiyou Co to Kern Co) Lessingia pectinata - Sonoma lessingia California (From San Bernardino Co to Contra Costa + El Dorado Cos) Lessingia ramulosa California (From Tehama Co to Marin Co)Lessingia tenuis - spring lessingia California (From Ventura Co to Alameda Co)Lessingia virgata - wand lessingia California (From Fresno Co to Shasta Co)
Formerly included Some species once regarded as part of Lessingia are now considered more suited to other genera: Artemisia, Benitoa, Cacalia, Chrysolaena, Corethrogyne, Lessingianthus, Vernonia.
References
External links USDA Plants Profile Jepson Manual Treatment