Mastrucium Cassini.

Herbs, perennial. Stems erect, usually branched in upper half. Leaves pinnatisect or pinnate, rarely undivided, margin dentate or serrate. Capitula heterogamous [or homogamous and plants gynodioecious], few to many, paniculate or corymbose. Involucre ovoid, hemispheric, or bowl-shaped. Phyllaries usually darker toward apex, imbricate, apex acute; inner phyllaries longest. Marginal florets female, scarcely longer than bisexual ones, with staminodes. Corolla purple to pink. Stigmatic branches slender. Achene glabrous, apex rounded. Pappus elements of one type, in several rows, finely serrulate or scabrid.

Two species: Asia, Europe; one species in China.

(Authors: Shi Zhu (石铸 Shih Chu); Ludwig Martins)