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Heliopsis suffruticosa is described from the Sierra de Sombrerete, in western Zacatecas, Mexico, growing in pinyon woodland on limestone. It differs from other species in the genus in having suffruticose habit, narrowly lanceolate to linear leaves with entire to sparsely serrulated margin, and peduncles gradually enlarged towards the apex, a combination of characters shared with some species of Zinnia. A key to distinguish among the Mexican species of perennial Heliopsis is presented. As other Heliopsis species, H. suffruticosa roots contain alkamides, in this case five diacetylenic conjugated next to a group methyl in the omega position, isobutyl alkamides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Heliopsis belongs to the tribe Heliantheae in the Asteraceae family. It includes 14 species, most of them endemic to Mexico. One of the species, Heliopsis longipes, is utilized in traditional medicine. The high level of alkamides in its roots has already been chemically characterized. The study of these metabolites is displayed in a comparative analysis on the presence of alkamides in six Mexican species of Heliopsis. The quantitative and qualitative analysis of the alkamides stored in roots of each species is presented. Chemotaxonomic importance of alkamides in this genus is also discussed. In this work we review and update the bibliography referring to the taxonomy of the genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]