Rhynchocorys
Rhynchocorys is a small genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Orobanchaceae. It was formerly classified in the family Scrophulariaceae.
It is native to Europe, Morocco and Algeria.
Etymology
The genus name Rhynchocorys derives from the two ancient greek words , meaning "snout, muzzle, nose", and , meaning "helmet, head", which is a reference to the shape of the style.Phylogeny
The phylogeny of the genera of Rhinantheae has been explored using molecular characters. Rhynchocorys is the sister genus to Lathraea and Rhinanthus. These three genera share phylogenetic affinities with members of the core Rhinantheae: Bartsia, Euphrasia, Tozzia, Hedbergia, Bellardia, and Odontites. Melampyrum appears as a more distant relative.Taxonomy
The genus was described in 1844 by August Heinrich Rudolf Grisebach.The type species is Rhynchocorys elephas.
Species
According to the Plant List, 8 species are recognized in the genus Rhynchocorys:- Rhynchocorys boissieri Post
- Rhynchocorys elephas Griseb.
- Rhynchocorys intermedia Albov
- Rhynchocorys kurdica Nábělek
- Rhynchocorys maxima Richt. ex Stapf, possibly to be reduced under synonymy of R. elephas
- Rhynchocorys odontophylla R.B.Burb. & I.Richardson
- Rhynchocorys orientalis Benth.
- Rhynchocorys stricta Albov