Tessaria is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae (the daisy family), placed within the tribe Inuleae. The genus is entirely South American in distribution, with species ranging from Panama in the north through Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina, and Chile.
The genus comprises a small number of shrubby to semi-arboreal species adapted to riverine and disturbed habitats across much of South America. Tessaria integrifolia, the most widespread species, extends from Panama to Argentina and is commonly known as the palo bobo or árbol de la vida in parts of its range. Tessaria absinthioides, sometimes called chachacoma de la puna or pájaro bobo, occurs in the southern cone from Chile and Argentina to Uruguay, Paraguay, and Brazil.
Taxonomically, Tessaria was previously more broadly circumscribed; several species formerly included are now placed in the closely related genera Pluchea or Pterocaulon, also within Asteraceae.
Distribution
Tessaria is distributed across South America, with the most widespread species, T. integrifolia, reaching as far north as Panama and ranging south through Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina. T. absinthioides occupies the southern cone, recorded from Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Brazil. Other species are more restricted, with T. andina endemic to Bolivia and additional species centered on the Bolivia–Argentina–Paraguay region.
Taxonomy Notes
Tessaria belongs to tribe Inuleae within the family Asteraceae and order Asterales. The genus boundary has been revised: several species once assigned to Tessaria are now treated as members of Pluchea or Pterocaulon, two closely related genera in the same family.
