lycocarpum

Lycocarpum is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. The genus is native to South America, with most species found in Brazil. Lycocarpum species are typically herbaceous perennials, though some can be shrubs. They are characterized by their small, capitulum-shaped flower heads, which are usually yellow or orange. The leaves are often lobed or toothed, and the plant may have a woolly appearance due to the presence of fine hairs.

The genus Lycocarpum was first described in 1822 by the German botanist Carl Heinrich Schultz. The name Lycocarpum is derived from the Greek words "lykos" (wolf) and "karpos" (fruit), though the exact reason for this naming is not clear. While several species have been assigned to the genus over time, its taxonomic status has been subject to revision. Some classifications consider Lycocarpum to be a synonym of other genera, such as Baccharis or Eupatorium, while others maintain it as a distinct genus.

The specific ecological roles and uses of Lycocarpum species are not extensively documented. Like many plants in the Asteraceae family, they likely play a part in supporting local insect populations through pollination. Further research is needed to fully understand the distribution, biology, and potential applications of the species within this genus. Its taxonomic uncertainty means that some plants previously identified as Lycocarpum might now be classified elsewhere.