Pycnocomon

Pycnocomon is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Caprifoliaceae.^[1] They were formerly placed in the defunct family of Dipsacaceae.^[2]

Pycnocomon
Pycnocomon intermedium between Branqueira and Olhos de Água, Algarve in Portugal.
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Dipsacales
Family:	Caprifoliaceae
Genus:	Pycnocomon Hoffmanns. & Link

It is native to the Mediterranean and found in the countries of Algeria, Corsica, Greece, Italy, Morocco, Portugal, Sardinia, Sicily, Spain and Tunisia.^[1]

It was first published in Fl. Portug. vol.2 on page 93 in 1820.^[1]

It was included in genus Scabiosa L. for a long time but molecular data demonstrated that genera Pycnocomon and Lomelosia (another Scabiosa-like genus) form a clade distinct from Scabiosa.^[2]

In 2017, a new species from the family Eriophyidae, the gall mites, Aceria pycnocomi was found on Pycnocomon rutifolium in Spain. ^[3]

Pycnocomon rutifolium in Spain was screened for Anticancer activity in 2021.^[4]

Species

As accepted by Plants of the World Online;^[1]

Image	Scientific name	Distribution
	Pycnocomon intermedium (Lag.) Greuter & Burdet	Central & S. Portugal to S. Spain
	Pycnocomon rutifolium (Vahl) Hoffmanns. & Link	Algeria, Corse, Greece, Italy, Morocco, Portugal, Sardegna, Sicilia, Spain, Tunisia