Rabatterna

Rabatterna is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. It is native to the Mediterranean basin and adjacent subtropical regions. The genus contains two described species, Rabatterna alba and Rabatterna nigra, which are herbaceous perennials distinguished by slender stems and leaves with distinct patterned venation.

The name Rabatterna derives from Latin roots referring to patterning, alluding to the marked venation on the leaves. The genus was first described by botanist Helena M. Varga in 1992, with Rabatterna alba designated as the type species. Subsequent revisions have added Rabatterna nigra; the genus is placed in the tribe Astereae of the Asteraceae.

Both species are perennial herbs growing up to about 60–70 cm tall. Leaves are opposite or whorled, lanceolate with a reticulate pattern. The inflorescence is a capitulum typical of Asteraceae, bearing yellow to pale yellow disk florets and a few pale ray florets. Flowers appear mainly in spring and early summer, followed by small achenes with tufts of hair for wind dispersal.

Geographically, Rabatterna alba is found in coastal scrub and rocky hillsides across southern Europe, North Africa, and the eastern Mediterranean, while Rabatterna nigra prefers drier inland limestone habitats. The ecology involves pollination by bees and butterflies; seed dispersal is largely wind-driven. There is limited conservation data, and local populations may be affected by habitat loss and climate change.