Zandera is a genus of annual flowering plants belonging to the family Asteraceae, subfamily Asteroideae, tribe Millerieae. The genus is native to Mexico and was formally described in 1988 by botanist Dorothea Louise Schulz in the journal Haussknechtia (vol. 4, p. 32).
Taxonomy
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Clade: Tracheophytes → Angiosperms → Eudicots → Asterids
- Order: Asterales
- Family: Asteraceae
- Subfamily: Asteroideae
- Tribe: Millerieae
- Genus: Zandera D.L.Schulz
Etymology
The generic name honors Robert Zander (1892–1969), a German botanist and horticulturist based in Berlin.
Species
According to Plants of the World Online, three species are currently accepted within the genus:
- Zandera andersoniae (B.L.Turner) D.L.Schulz
- Zandera blakei (McVaugh & Lask.) D.L.Schulz
- Zandera hartmanii (B.L.Turner) D.L.Schulz
Distribution and Habitat
All known species of Zandera are endemic to Mexico, occurring in various regions of the country’s central and southwestern states. Specific habitat preferences are not comprehensively documented, but as annuals in the Asteraceae, they are typically found in open, sun‑exposed environments.
Synonymy
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Agricultural Research Service have listed Zandera as a possible synonym of the genus Sigesbeckia L., though no species have been formally transferred under that synonymy.
References
- Schulz, D.L. (1988). “Zandera.” Haussknechtia, 4: 32.
- Plants of the World Online, Kew Science. “Zandera D.L.Schulz.” Accessed 2022.
- Burkhardt, L. (2018). Verzeichnis eponymischer Pflanzennamen – Erweiterte Edition. Berlin: Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum, Freie Universität Berlin.
Note: Information reflects currently available scientific literature and taxonomic databases.