Lalaria

Lalaria is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae, commonly known as the daisy family. The genus currently contains a single species, Lalaria microcephala. This plant is native to the Andes mountains in South America, specifically found in Chile and Argentina. Lalaria microcephala is a small, herbaceous perennial that typically grows in alpine meadows and rocky slopes at high elevations. Its leaves are usually small and somewhat spoon-shaped, often forming a basal rosette. The plant produces small, daisy-like flower heads, which are typically white with yellow centers. These flower heads are borne on slender stems. The genus Lalaria was described by botanist Carl Ernst Otto Kuntze in 1891. While historically there have been other species assigned to this genus, modern taxonomic treatments generally recognize only Lalaria microcephala. Its ecological role involves contributing to the biodiversity of high-altitude Andean ecosystems, often found alongside other hardy alpine flora. Further research into its specific ecological interactions and genetic makeup is ongoing.