Sidostila

Sidostila is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae, native to South America. The genus is characterized by its small, annual herbs, typically growing to a height of 10-30 centimeters. The leaves are alternate, simple, and often have a toothed margin. The inflorescence is a small, flat-topped cluster of flowers, each with a yellow or white corolla and a five-lobed disk. The fruit is a small achene with a pappus of bristles.

Sidostila is named after the Greek words "sidos," meaning "thorn," and "stylos," meaning "column," referring to the thorny pappus of the fruit. The genus was first described by the German botanist Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius in 1839. It includes about 10 species, distributed across the Andes and the Brazilian highlands.

The plants in this genus are often used in traditional medicine for their anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. They are also cultivated for their ornamental value, with some species being popular in rock gardens and alpine plantings. However, due to their small size and specific growing conditions, they are not commonly found in commercial horticulture.

Sidostila is a relatively obscure genus, but it plays an important role in the biodiversity of the South American flora. Its study contributes to our understanding of the evolution and diversification of the Asteraceae family.