Pilostemon Iljin.

Herbs, perennial [or shrublets]. Leaves undivided to pinnatisect. Capitula solitary or several in a corymbiform synflorescence. Involucre bowl-shaped, ovoid, campanulate, hemispheric, or cylindric. Phyllaries herbaceous or leathery, appressed or reflexed. Receptacle with broad rigid shortly acuminate scales or bristles. Corolla red to purple, with sessile glands. Anther tails lacerate-caudate. Style branches short, divergent. Achene isodiametric, narrowly obovoid, narrowly ellipsoid, or obconic, 3- or 4-angled, glabrous or glandular, sometimes spinulose-tuberculate, apical rim forming a crown. Pappus bristles in several rows, white, scabrid, barbellate, or plumose, unequal in length, sometimes 2-5 inner bristles much longer than others; bristles inserted on a conspicuous conical cupule, persistent or caducous as a whole.

The genus Pilostemon differs from Jurinea only in the pilose anther connectives. All other diagnostic characters given in the protologue of the genus, especially concerning the receptacle, achene, and pappus structure, can be found at least in some sections of Jurinea as well. Pilostemon is therefore not accepted in this treatment.

About 250 species: NW Africa, C and SW Asia, Europe; ten species (one endemic) in China.

(Authors: Shi Zhu (石铸 Shih Chu); Eckhard von Raab-Straube)