Gonzalezia (plant)

Gonzalezia is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Asteraceae.

Its native range is northern and western Mexico.

Botanists Schilling & Panero in 2002 and 2011, studied the subtribe Helianthinae based on molecular sequences of nuclear ITS, ETS, and cpDNA, coming to a conclusion that the genus Viguiera Kunth, did not constitute a monophyletic group. Among their conclusions they proposed to reclassify the genus, dividing and relocating its species in at least eleven genera: Aldama La Llave, Bahiopsis Kellogg, Calanticaria (B.L. Rob. & Greenm.) E.E. Schill. & Panero, Davilanthus E.E. Schill. & Panero, Dendroviguiera E.E. Schill. & Panero, Gonzalezia E.E. Schill. & Panero, Heiseria E.E. Schill. & Panero, Heliomeris Nutt., Hymenostephium Benth., Sidneya E.E. Schill. & Panero and Viguiera Kunth.

The genus name of Gonzalezia is in honour of María del Socorro González Elizondo (b. 1953), a Mexican plant taxonomist with a focus on Cyperaceae. It was first described and published by botanists Edward E. Schilling and José Luis Panero in Bot. J. Linn. Soc. Vol.167 on page 326 in 2011.

Known species, according to Kew;

• Gonzalezia decurrens (A.Gray) E.E.Schill. & Panero
• Gonzalezia hypargyrea (Greenm.) E.E.Schill. & Panero
• Gonzalezia rosei (Greenm.) E.E.Schill. & Panero