What is "hymenostephium"

Hymenostephium is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. It includes herbs and slender shrubs that occur from Mexico through Central America and into South America.

Hymenostephium is characterized by the relatively slender habit of the plants, 1-2 seriate involucres, and relatively small heads of flowers. There is variation in the pappus which, in part, has led to the members having been placed formerly in several different genera ( Garcilassa, Haplocalymma, and Viguiera sect. Diplostichis). Molecular phylogenetic data place the genus as sister to Sclerocarpus and in a relatively basal position in the subtribe Helianthinae, the group that includes the common sunflower (Helianthus annuus).

1. Hymenostephium angustifolium Benth. - Colombia
2. Hymenostephium anomalum (S.F.Blake) E.E.Schill. & Panero - Colombia
3. Hymenostephium brandegeei (S.F.Blake) E.E.Schill. & Panero - Baja California
4. Hymenostephium debile (Cabrera) Cabrera - Argentina ( Jujuy + Salta), Bolivia ( Santa Cruz)
5. Hymenostephium goebelii (Klatt) S.F.Blake - Venezuela
6. Hymenostephium gracillimum (Brandegee) E.E.Schill. & Panero - Oaxaca, Chiapas
7. Hymenostephium hintonii (H.Rob.) E.E.Schill. & Panero - Guerrero, Michoacán
8. Hymenostephium lepidostephanum (Cuatrec.) E.E.Schill. & Panero - Peru
9. Hymenostephium meridense S.F.Blake - Venezuela
10. Hymenostephium mucronatum (S.F.Blake) E.E.Schill. & Panero - Colombia, Venezuela
11. Hymenostephium serratum (Rusby) E.E.Schill. & Panero - Colombia, Venezuela
12. Hymenostephium tenuis (A.Gray) E.E.Schill. & Panero - Oaxaca, Chiapas, Guerrero, Michoacán, Puebla, México State, Jalisco, Nayarit
13. Hymenostephium uniseriatum E.E.Schill. & Panero - Morelos, Guerrero, Michoacán, Puebla, México State
14. Hymenostephium viride Steyerm. - Venezuela
15. Hymenostephium websteri (B.L.Turner) E.E.Schill. & Panero - Jalisco, Nayarit
16. Hymenostephium woronowii (S.F.Blake) E.E.Schill. & Panero - Michoacán