Acourtia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae (the daisy family), order Asterales, encompassing roughly 81 accepted species commonly known as desertpeonies. The genus was first formally described in 1830 and is closely related to other tribes within the Asteraceae but is placed in the subfamily Barnadesioideae or, in some treatments, in its own tribe Mutisieae.
Plants in the genus are diverse in form but share characteristic flower heads that are composed predominantly of disc florets. In many species these florets are elongated and strap-shaped, superficially resembling the ray florets found elsewhere in the daisy family. Flower colour ranges through white, pink, and purple. The plants are generally herbaceous perennials or subshrubs adapted to dry, open habitats.
The genus is native to the arid and semi-arid regions of the Southwestern United States — including Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Texas — and extends south through Mesoamerica into Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico. Well-known members include Acourtia nana (dwarf desertpeony) and Acourtia runcinata (featherleaf desertpeony).
Etymology
The genus name Acourtia honours Mary Elizabeth Catherine Gibbs à Court-Repington (1792–1878), an English noblewoman with botanical interests. She married Charles Ashe à Court-Repington, and the genus was named in recognition of her contributions to botany.
Distribution
Acourtia species are native to arid and semi-arid habitats in the Southwestern United States (Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Texas) and Mesoamerica, where the genus ranges through Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico.
