''Heterotheca'' (common names goldenasters, camphorweed, and telegraph weed) is a genus of North American plants in the family

Asteraceae Asteraceae () is a large family (biology), family of flowering plants that consists of over 32,000 known species in over 1,900 genera within the Order (biology), order Asterales. The number of species in Asteraceae is rivaled only by the Orchi ...

Etymology

''Heterotheca'' (heterothe'ca:) comes from Ancient Greek "other, different" and "case, chest" (botanically, "ovary") and refers to the difference in shape, in some species in the genus, between the cypselae (

achene An achene (; ), also sometimes called akene and occasionally achenium or achenocarp, is a type of simple fruit, simple dry fruits, dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants. Achenes are monocarpellate (formed from one carpel) and Dehi ...

s containing seed) of the disk and ray florets.

Description, biology

These are annual and perennial herbs bearing daisy-like

flower heads A pseudanthium (; : pseudanthia) is an inflorescence that resembles a flower. The word is sometimes used for other structures that are neither a true flower nor a true inflorescence. Examples of pseudanthia include flower heads, composite flowers ...

with yellow disc florets and usually yellow ray florets, associated with mesic to xeric habitats across

North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere, Northern and Western Hemisphere, Western hemispheres. North America is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South Ameri ...

. Several species now included in ''Heterotheca'' were previously classified in the genus '' Chrysopsis.'' ''Heterotheca'' species are used as food plants by the caterpillars of some species of

Lepidoptera Lepidoptera ( ) or lepidopterans is an order (biology), order of winged insects which includes butterflies and moths. About 180,000 species of the Lepidoptera have been described, representing 10% of the total described species of living organ ...

including '' Schinia lynx'', '' Schinia nubila'' and '' Schinia saturata'' (all of which have been recorded on ''Heterotheca subaxillaris'').

Chemistry

The leaf volatiles from which the name "camphorweed" is derived include camphor, but as a minor constituent (less than 2%); of the 41 documented volatiles in ''

Heterotheca subaxillaris ''Heterotheca subaxillaris'', known by the common name camphorweed, is a North American species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It is widespread across much of the United States (from California to Massachusetts) as well as Mexico an ...

'', for example,

caryophyllene Caryophyllene (), more formally (−)-β-caryophyllene (BCP), is a natural bicyclic sesquiterpene that occurs widely in nature. Caryophyllene is notable for having a cyclobutane ring, as well as a ''trans''-double bond in a 9-membered ring, both ...

, pinene, borneol,

myrcene Myrcene, or β-myrcene, is a terpene, monoterpene. A colorless oil, it occurs widely in essential oils. It is produced mainly semi-synthetically from ''Myrcia'', from which it gets its name. It is an intermediate in the production of several frag ...

, and

limonene Limonene () is a colorless liquid aliphatic hydrocarbon classified as a cyclic monoterpene, and is the major component in the essential oil of citrus fruit peels. The (+)-isomer, occurring more commonly in nature as the fragrance of oranges, ...

each comprise over 5% of the total.

Species

The following species are recognized in the genus ''Heterotheca'': * '' Heterotheca angustifolia'' (Rydb.) G.L.Nesom - southeastern

Colorado Colorado is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States. It is one of the Mountain states, sharing the Four Corners region with Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. It is also bordered by Wyoming to the north, Nebraska to the northeast, Kansas ...

to central U.S.A * '' Heterotheca arenaria'' (Elmer) G.L.Nesom -

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

* '' Heterotheca arizonica'' (Semple) G.L.Nesom -

Arizona Arizona is a U.S. state, state in the Southwestern United States, Southwestern region of the United States, sharing the Four Corners region of the western United States with Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. It also borders Nevada to the nort ...

to western

Texas Texas ( , ; or ) is the most populous U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Louisiana to the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, New Mexico to the we ...

and Mexico (Chihuahua) * '' Heterotheca ballardii'' (Rydb.) G.L.Nesom - central Canada to northwestern & northern central U.S.A. * '' Heterotheca bolanderi'' (A.Gray) V.L.Harms - California * '' Heterotheca brandegeei'' (B.L.Rob. & Greenm.) Semple - northern

Baja California Baja California, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Baja California, is a state in Mexico. It is the northwesternmost of the 32 federal entities of Mexico. Before becoming a state in 1952, the area was known as the North Territory of B ...

* '' Heterotheca camphorata'' (Eastw.) Semple - California * '' Heterotheca camporum'' (Greene) Shinners -

Arkansas Arkansas ( ) is a landlocked state in the West South Central region of the Southern United States. It borders Missouri to the north, Tennessee and Mississippi to the east, Louisiana to the south, Texas to the southwest, and Oklahoma ...

Missouri Missouri (''see #Etymology and pronunciation, pronunciation'') is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking List of U.S. states and territories by area, 21st in land area, it border ...

Iowa Iowa ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the upper Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west; Wisconsin to the northeast, Ill ...

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. It borders on Lake Michigan to its northeast, the Mississippi River to its west, and the Wabash River, Wabash and Ohio River, Ohio rivers to its ...

Ohio Ohio ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Lake Erie to the north, Pennsylvania to the east, West Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Indiana to the ...

Michigan Michigan ( ) is a peninsular U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest, Upper Midwestern United States. It shares water and land boundaries with Minnesota to the northwest, Wisconsin to the west, ...

Kentucky Kentucky (, ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north, West Virginia to the ...

Tennessee Tennessee (, ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders Kentucky to the north, Virginia to the northeast, North Carolina t ...

Mississippi Mississippi ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Deep South regions of the United States. It borders Tennessee to the north, Alabama to the east, the Gulf of Mexico to the south, Louisiana to the s ...

Alabama Alabama ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Deep South, Deep Southern regions of the United States. It borders Tennessee to the north, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gu ...

Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the South Caucasus * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the southeastern United States Georgia may also refer to: People and fictional characters * Georgia (name), a list of pe ...

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States between the East Coast of the United States ...

North Carolina North Carolina ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, South Carolina to the south, Georgia (U.S. stat ...

New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...

* '' Heterotheca canescens'' (DC.) Shinners -

Nuevo León Nuevo León, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Nuevo León, is a Administrative divisions of Mexico, state in northeastern Mexico. The state borders the Mexican states of Tamaulipas, Coahuila, Zacatecas, and San Luis Potosí, San Luis ...

, Texas,

New Mexico New Mexico is a state in the Southwestern United States, Southwestern region of the United States. It is one of the Mountain States of the southern Rocky Mountains, sharing the Four Corners region with Utah, Colorado, and Arizona. It also ...

Oklahoma Oklahoma ( ; Choctaw language, Choctaw: , ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Texas to the south and west, Kansas to the north, Missouri to the northea ...

, Colorado,

Kansas Kansas ( ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Nebraska to the north; Missouri to the east; Oklahoma to the south; and Colorado to the west. Kansas is named a ...

, Missouri, Iowa * '' Heterotheca chihuahuana'' (B.L.Turner & S.D.Sundb.) B.L.Turner - California * '' Heterotheca cinerascens'' (S.F.Blake) G.L.Nesom -

Idaho Idaho ( ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest and Mountain states, Mountain West subregions of the Western United States. It borders Montana and Wyoming to the east, Nevada and Utah to the south, and Washington (state), ...

to Arizona * '' Heterotheca cryptocephala'' (Wooton & Standl.) G.L.Nesom - southern and central New Mexico * '' Heterotheca depressa'' (Rydb.) Dorn -

Montana Montana ( ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Mountain states, Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It is bordered by Idaho to the west, North Dakota to the east, South Dakota to the southeast, Wyoming to the south, an ...

to northern Utah * '' Heterotheca excelsior'' G.L.Nesom -

Nevada Nevada ( ; ) is a landlocked state in the Western United States. It borders Oregon to the northwest, Idaho to the northeast, California to the west, Arizona to the southeast, and Utah to the east. Nevada is the seventh-most extensive, th ...

(Spring Mountains) * '' Heterotheca fastigiata'' (Greene) V.L.Harms - California * '' Heterotheca fulciens'' G.L.Nesom - Nevada to Utah and Arizona * '' Heterotheca fulcrata'' (Greene) Shinners - Coahuila,

Tamaulipas Tamaulipas, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Tamaulipas, is a state in Mexico; one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the 32 federal entities of Mexico. It is divided into 43 municipalities. It is located in nor ...

, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Nevada, Utah, Colorado,

Wyoming Wyoming ( ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Mountain states, Mountain West subregion of the Western United States, Western United States. It borders Montana to the north and northwest, South Dakota and Nebraska to the east, Idaho t ...

, Idaho * '' Heterotheca grandiflora'' - telegraphweed - Baja California, California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah * '' Heterotheca gypsophila'' B.L.Turner - Nuevo León * '' Heterotheca harmsiana'' (Semple) G.L.Nesom - Mexico (Coahuila, Nuevo León, Zacatecas) * '' Heterotheca hartmanii'' G.L.Nesom - Colorado, Wyoming * '' Heterotheca hirsuta'' (Greene) G.L.Nesom - western and central Canada to northeastern and west-central U.S.A. * '' Heterotheca hirsutissima'' (Greene) G.L.Nesom - Wyoming to northeastern Arizona and western Texas, Mexico (Nuevo León) * '' Heterotheca hispida'' (Hook.) G.L.Nesom - western and central Canada to northwestern and west-central U.S.A. * '' Heterotheca incensa'' G.L.Nesom - southwestern Wyoming to Utah * '' Heterotheca inflata'' G.L.Nesom - eastern and southeastern Utah to Colorado * '' Heterotheca inuloides'' Cass. - Mexican arnica - Nuevo León to

Oaxaca Oaxaca, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Oaxaca, is one of the 32 states that compose the political divisions of Mexico, Federative Entities of the Mexico, United Mexican States. It is divided into municipalities of Oaxaca, 570 munici ...

* '' Heterotheca jonesii'' (S.F.Blake) S.L.Welsh & N.D.Atwood - Utah * '' Heterotheca joshuana'' G.L.Nesom - southern California * '' Heterotheca komarekiae'' G.L.Nesom - Colorado * '' Heterotheca loboensis'' G.L.Nesom - south-central U.S.A. * '' Heterotheca marcbakeri'' G.L.Nesom - west-central Arizona * '' Heterotheca marginata'' Semple - Arizona * '' Heterotheca mayoensis'' G.L.Nesom - northern Mexico * '' Heterotheca mexicana'' V.L.Harms ex B.L.Turner -

Durango Durango, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Durango, is one of the 31 states which make up the Political divisions of Mexico, 32 Federal Entities of Mexico, situated in the northwest portion of the country. With a population of 1,832,650 ...

* '' Heterotheca monarchensis'' D.A.York, Shevock & Semple - monarch golden aster - Fresno County in California * '' Heterotheca mucronata'' V.L.Harms ex B.L.Turner - Nuevo León, Coahuila, Tamaulipas * '' Heterotheca nitidula'' (Wooton & Standl.) G.L.Nesom - eastern Arizona to western and west-central New Mexico * '' Heterotheca oregona'' (Nutt.) Shinners - Washington to California * '' Heterotheca orovillosa'' G.L.Nesom - southwestern Oregon to California and western Nevada * '' Heterotheca paniculata'' G.L.Nesom - Colorado to central New Mexico * '' Heterotheca pedunculata'' (Greene) G.L.Nesom - Arizona to Colorado and New Mexico * '' Heterotheca polothrix'' G.L.Nesom - western and southwestern Colorado to northern & eastern Arizona * '' Heterotheca postpetrinis'' G.L.Nesom - Utah * '' Heterotheca pumila'' (Greene) Semple - Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, New Mexico * '' Heterotheca resinolens'' (A.Nelson) G.L.Nesom - southern Wyoming to Colorado * '' Heterotheca rosei'' (B.Wagenkn.) G.L.Nesom - Mexico * '' Heterotheca rudis'' (Greene) G.L.Nesom - western Oregon to northern and northwestern California * '' Heterotheca rutteri'' (Rothr.) Shinners - Arizona,

Sonora Sonora (), officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora (), is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the Administrative divisions of Mexico, Federal Entities of Mexico. The state is divided into Municipalities of Sonora, 72 ...

* '' Heterotheca sanctarum'' G.L.Nesom - California * '' Heterotheca sandersii'' G.L.Nesom - southern California * '' Heterotheca scaberrima'' (A.Gray) G.L.Nesom - California * '' Heterotheca scabrifolia'' (A.Nelson) G.L.Nesom - southern

Nebraska Nebraska ( ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders South Dakota to the north; Iowa to the east and Missouri to the southeast, both across the Missouri River; Ka ...

to Texas * '' Heterotheca scelionis'' G.L.Nesom - Oregon * '' Heterotheca schneideri'' G.L.Nesom - southwestern Colorado * '' Heterotheca sessiliflora'' (Nutt.) Shinners - sessileflower false golden aster - Baja California, California * '' Heterotheca shevockii'' (Semple) Semple - Kern Canyon false golden aster -

Kern County Kern County is a county (United States), county located in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 909,235. Its county seat is Bakersfield, California, Bakersfield. Kern County compris ...

in California * '' Heterotheca sierrablancensis'' (Semple) G.L.Nesom - south-central New Mexico. * '' Heterotheca stenophylla'' (A.Gray) Shinners - Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, Iowa,

Minnesota Minnesota ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Upper Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Ontario to the north and east and by the U.S. states of Wisconsin to the east, Iowa to the so ...

* ''

'' (Lam.) Britton & Rusby - camphorweed, camphor weed, false goldenaster - widespread from Belize to California, South Dakota, and

Massachusetts Massachusetts ( ; ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Maine to its east, Connecticut and Rhode ...

* '' Heterotheca thiniicola'' (Rzed. & E.Ezcurra) B.L.Turner * '' Heterotheca utahensis'' G.L.Nesom - southern Idaho to northwestern Colorado * '' Heterotheca vespertina'' G.L.Nesom - western Canada to northwestern U.S.A. * '' Heterotheca villosa'' (Pursh) Shinners - central Canada to central U.S.A. * '' Heterotheca villosissima'' (DC.) G.L.Nesom - California * '' Heterotheca viridis'' (G.L.Nesom) G.L.Nesom - Mexico (Oaxaca) * '' Heterotheca viscida'' (A.Gray) V.L.Harms - Arizona, New Mexico, Texas * '' Heterotheca wisconsinensis'' (Shinners) Shinners - central Wisconsin * '' Heterotheca zionensis'' Semple - Zion golden aster - Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, Idaho, Wyoming

Formerly included

Many species have been included in ''Heterotheca'' at various times in the past, but are now regarded as sharing ancestry with other genera. The most common of these genera is '' Chrysopsis'', but others include '' Aster'', '' Bradburia'', '' Osbertia'', ''

Munnozia ''Munnozia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. It is centered in the Andes.Pruski, J. F. (2012)Studies of Neotropical Compositae – V. ''Munnozia ortiziae'' (Liabeae), a new species from the Andes of Pasco, Peru.Phyton ...

'', '' Pityopsis'' and '' Tomentaurum.''

References

External links

*
Jepson Manual Treatment: ''Heterotheca''
* {{Authority control Asteraceae genera Flora of Northern America Taxa named by Henri Cassini