Perennials, 50–200 cm (usually rhizomatous, colonial, rhizomes relatively slender). Stems erect to decumbent (sometimes rooting at proximal nodes), not much branched distal to bases. Leaves cauline; opposite; petiolate; blades usually 3-nerved from bases, deltate, oblanceolate, ovate, ovate-deltate, oblong, or triangular, margins dentate or lobed (to dissected in C. dissectum), faces glabrate to puberulous, villosulous, or hispidulous, gland-dotted. Heads discoid, in tight, corymbiform arrays. Involucres hemispheric, 3–6 mm diam. Phyllaries persistent, ca. 25 in 2–3 series, obscurely 2–3-nerved, lanceolate to linear, ± equal (herbaceous). Receptacles conic, epaleate. Florets 35–70+; corollas usually blue to purple or violet, rarely white, throats narrowly funnelform (lengths ca. 4 times diams.); styles: bases not enlarged, glabrous, branches filiform to linear-clavate. Cypselae prismatic (bases narrowed), 5-ribbed, glabrous or sparsely gland-dotted and/or hispidulous; pappi persistent, of ca. 30 barbellate bristles in 1 series. x = 10.

Distribution

sw, e North America, Mexico.

Discussion

Species 4 (3 in the flora).

Selected References

Patterson, T. F. 1994. A Taxonomic Revision of Conoclinium DC. (Asteraceae, Eupatorieae). M.S. thesis. University of Texas.

Lower Taxa

Conoclinium betonicifolium, Conoclinium coelestinum, Conoclinium dissectum

Key

1	Leaf blades deeply dissected or lobed (lobes dentate, apices sharply pointed or rounded)	Conoclinium dissectum
1	Leaf blades serrate to dentate or crenate (not dissected or lobed)	> 2
2	Leaf blades usually oblong to oblong-lanceolate, sometimes triangular, bases truncate to cordate (often subauriculate), apices rounded to obtuse; tips of pappus bristles dilated	Conoclinium betonicifolium
2	Leaf blades triangular to deltate or ovate, bases usually cuneate to truncate, rarely subcordate (not subauriculate), apices acute; tips of pappus bristles not dilated	Conoclinium coelestinum