Eremothamnus

Eremothamnus is a monotypic genus of shrubs in the family Asteraceae. Its only species is Eremothamnus marlothianus. It is native to the coastal desert of Namibia. It is a small shrub with spiny leaves.

Taxonomy and systematics

The genus Eremothamnus was erected in 1889 by Karl [August Otto Hoffmann|Otto Hoffmann], when he named its only species, Eremothamnus marlothianus. The name |specific epithet] is for Hermann [Wilhelm Rudolf Marloth|Rudolf Marloth], a South [African people|South African] botanist, pharmacist, and analytical chemist. The generic name is derived from the Greek words eremos and thamnos. Hoffmann did not give an etymology for the name and it has been supposed that it means "solitary shrub", but "desert shrub" is also a possible interpretation.
Eremothamnus is closely related to Hoplophyllum. These two genera form a clade in the subfamily Cichorioideae. Some authors have placed Eremothamnus in the tribe Arctotideae. In some of the more recent classification systems, Eremothamnus and Hoplophyllum constitute the tribe Eremothamneae.