Raillardella is a small genus of flowering plants in the tribe Madieae, family Asteraceae (the daisy or composite family), order Asterales. The genus is native to the western United States, occurring in Oregon, California, and western Nevada.
Members of Raillardella are herbaceous perennials adapted to high-elevation or montane habitats in the western United States. As members of the tribe Madieae — a group within Asteraceae concentrated on the Pacific coast of North America — they share the characteristic composite flower heads typical of the daisy family.
The genus as currently circumscribed comprises three accepted species. Several taxa formerly placed in Raillardella have been transferred to related genera: Raillardella muirii is now Carlquistia muirii, Raillardella paniculata is now Arnica viscosa, and Raillardella scabrida is now Anisocarpus scabridus. The closest relatives of Raillardella include Anisocarpus, Arnica, and Carlquistia.
Distribution
Raillardella is native to the western United States, with species distributed across Oregon, California, and western Nevada. R. scaposa and R. argentea have the widest ranges within this region, while R. pringlei is restricted to Trinity and Siskiyou Counties in northern California.
Taxonomy Notes
Raillardella belongs to the tribe Madieae within the family Asteraceae. Several species formerly placed in the genus have been reclassified: Raillardella muirii is now Carlquistia muirii, Raillardella paniculata is now Arnica viscosa, and Raillardella scabrida is now Anisocarpus scabridus. The genus currently comprises three accepted species.
