- Heterotheca inuloides Cass. is native to Mexico and includes four varieties that different in hair and gland density on the stems, leaves and phyllaries. This species has larger heads than H. subaxillaris. Nesom (2019) split the species into four separate species: H. inuloides Cass., H. leptoglossa DC.) Nesom, H. rosei (Wagenknecht) Nesom, and H. viridis (Nesom) Nesom based on differences in phyllary hair and gland traits. Cook and Semple (2025) presented results of a clustering and multivariate analyses and concluded that the complex should be divided into four varieties listed below within H. inuloides, acknowledging that var. leptoglossa could be treated at the species level, while var. rosei might not warrant recognition at any level. Further study with larger sample sizes is needed.
- var. inuloides
- var. leptoglossa (DC.) R.E. Cook & Semple
- var. rosei Wagenknecht
- var. viridis Nesom
Nesom, G.L. 2019. Taxonomic summary of Heterotheca (Asteraceae: Astereae): Part 1, sects. Heterotheca and Ammodia. Phytoneuron 2019-64: 1–44.
Cook, R.E. and J.C. Semple. 2025. A multivariate morphometric study of Heterotheca inuloides including H. leptoglossa (Asteraceae: Astereae). Phytoneuron 2025-38: 1–21.
Last update 23 July 2025 by J.C. Semple
© 2025 J.C. Semple, including all photographs unless otherwise indicated