SPHAERANTHUS suaveolens (Forssk.) DC. [family COMPOSITAE], Prodr. 5: 370 (1836); Oliv. & Hiern in F.T.A. 3: 333 (1877); Robyns in K.B. 1924: 188 (1924); Ross-Craig in Hook., Ic. Pl. ser. 5, 6: 42, t. 3508 (1955); F.P.S. 3: 53 (1956); F.P.U.: 176 (1962); Wild in Kirkia 12: 105 (1980); Blundell, Wild Flow. E. Afr.: t. 775 (1987); Lisowski in F.A.C. Compositae, Inuleae: 222 (1989); U.K.W.F. ed. 2: 209, pl. 86 (1994). Lectotype selected here: Egypt, Rashid [Roseitae], Forsskål 1589 (C, lecto., BM!, isolecto., K!, photo.)
Polycephalos suaveolens Forssk. [family ], Fl. Aegypt.-Arab. 62: 134 (1775)
Sphaeranthus abyssinicus Steetz [family COMPOSITAE], in Peters, Reise Mossamb. Bot. 1: 411 (1863). Type: Ethiopia, Adwa, Schimper 219 (B†, holo., P!, iso.)
Sphaeranthus kotschyi Sch. Bip. [family COMPOSITAE], in Schweinf., Beitr. Fl. Aethiop.: 308 (1867), nomen nudum
Sphaeranthus suaveolens Oliv. var. angustifolius [family COMPOSITAE], in Trans. Linn. Soc., London 29: 94 (1873); Oliv. & Hiern, F.T.A. 3: 333 (1877), as var. angustifolia; Ross-Craig in Hook., Ic. Pl. ser. 5, 6: 46, t. 3509/3-7 (1955), syn. nov. Syntypes: Ethiopia/Sudan, Kotschy 500 (K!, syn.); Uganda, Madi, Speke & Grant s.n. (K!, syn.); Sudan, Bongoland, Mittuland and Niamniamland, Schweinfurth s.n. (K!, syn. but this specimen is in fact S. randii)
Sphaeranthus tetraphyllus S. Moore [family COMPOSITAE], in J.B. 54: 254 (1916). Type: Uganda, Mengo District, Namanyonyi, Dummer 2574 (BM!, holo., K!, iso.)
Sphaeranthus angustifolius [family COMPOSITAE], [sensu Robyns in K.B. 1924: 189 (1924), non DC. pro parte]
Sphaeranthus suaveolens (S. Moore) Ross-Craig var. tetraphyllus [family COMPOSITAE], in Hook., Ic. Pl. ser. 5, 6: 47, t. 3509/8–10 (1955); Wild in Kirkia 12: 106 (1980); Lisowski in F.A.C. Compositae, Inuleae: 224 (1989), syn. nov.
Sphaeranthus suaveolens Ross-Craig forma brevifolius [family COMPOSITAE], in Hook., Ic. Pl. ser. 5, 6: 49 (1955). Type: Uganda, foothills of Elgon, Small 1184 (K!, holo.)
Sphaeranthus suaveolens (Steetz) Ross-Craig var. abyssinicus [family COMPOSITAE], in Hook., Ic. Pl. ser. 5, 6: 44, t. 3509/1–2 (1955), syn. nov.
Sphaeranthus napierae Ross-Craig [family COMPOSITAE], in Hook., Ic. Pl. ser. 5, 6: 52, t. 3511 (1954); Blundell, Wild Flow. E. Afr.: t. 774 (1987); U.K.W.F. ed. 2: 209, t. 86 (1994), syn. nov. Type: Kenya, Kiambu District, Ruiru road 3 km beyond Ruaraka R., Napier 425 (K!, holo., EA!, iso.)