 This is unusual, because tree species are uncommon in Asteraceae.The genus "Scalesia" resulted from a blunder by Arnott who named it in honour of "W. Scales Esq., Cawdor Castle, Elginshire" but discovered after publication that the name should have read 'Stables', after Scottish botanist, William Alexander Stables (1810–1890).All of the species have soft, pithy wood.