 In 1868, the name "Cryptadia euphratensis", with a description by John Lindley, was published, but this name was later synonymised with "G. micrantha".The unusual morphology of "Gymnarrhena" has made it difficult for taxonomists to make a solid assignment.Bentham, Hoffmann, and Cronquist put this genus in the Inuleae tribe in its widest circumscription, while both Hoffmann and Cronquist note "Gymnarrhena" is similar to "Geigeria".