Rafinesques

Rafinesques is a term that can refer to several things, most notably the scientific name of a genus of trees or a surname.

In botany, *Rafinesquia* is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae, commonly known as the desert chicories. There are two species in this genus: *Rafinesquia californica* (California chicory) and *Rafinesquia nevadensis* (Pinewoods gilia). These plants are native to California and Baja California, Mexico. They are annuals characterized by their daisy-like flowers, which are typically white with yellow centers. *Rafinesquia californica* is more widespread, found in various habitats including grasslands, woodlands, and coastal sage scrub. *Rafinesquia nevadensis* is rarer and typically found in coniferous forests.

The surname Rafinesque is most famously associated with Constantine Samuel Rafinesque-Schmaltz (1783–1840). He was a naturalist, linguist, and polymath who was born in Galata, Constantinople (now Istanbul). Rafinesque traveled extensively and made significant contributions to various scientific fields, including ichthyology, herpetology, botany, and conchology. He described many new species of plants and animals, particularly in North America. His work was often characterized by a prolific output and sometimes unconventional classifications, which led to some of his discoveries being overlooked or later reclassified. Despite his sometimes controversial reception during his lifetime, Rafinesque is recognized today as an important figure in early American natural history.

---