Brintonia

Brintonia is a monotypic genus of flowering plants in the aster family, Asteraceae. It contains only one known species, Brintonia discoidea.

Brintonia discoidea, commonly called false boneset, is a perennial herb native to the southeastern United States. It is found primarily in wet pine savannas and flatwoods habitats from southeastern Virginia south to Florida, and west to Louisiana.

The plant typically grows to a height of 30 to 80 centimeters (12 to 31 inches). It features lance-shaped leaves that are arranged oppositely along the stem. The most distinctive characteristic is its flower heads, which are discoid, meaning they lack ray florets and consist solely of disc florets. These disc florets are typically white or cream-colored.

Brintonia discoidea flowers in the late summer and fall. It is considered relatively uncommon throughout its range, and its habitat is threatened by development and changes in land management practices, such as fire suppression, which can alter the open character of pine savannas.

The genus Brintonia is named in honor of Joseph Bernard Brinton (1877-1961), an American botanist and plant collector.