Aldama (plant)

The genus was originally described to include one (later two) species of subtribe Helianthinae that were characterized by having pales that tightly enclosed the cypselae (achenes) (see Feddema, 1971).

[1] Aldama is currently, characterized by having a perennial herbaceous habit, a pappus usually of awns and scales, and a multi-seriate involucre.

Botanists Schilling & Panero in 2002 and 2011, studied the subtribe Helianthinae based on molecular sequences of nuclear ITS, ETS, and cpDNA, coming to a conclusion that the genus Viguiera Kunth, did not constitute a monophyletic group.

Among their conclusions they proposed to reclassify the genus, dividing and relocating its species in at least eleven genera: Aldama La Llave, Bahiopsis Kellogg, Calanticaria (B.L.

[4][5] It is native to (countries of): Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, northern and central Chile, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, United States (in the states of Arizona, New Mexico and Texas) and Venezuela.