Perennials, 30-50(-80) cm. Aerial stems (from ± erect caudices) 1-10+, stramineous to reddish, glabrous or sparingly hairy. Leaf blades deltate-lanceolate, (1.5-)3-6 × 0.8-3 cm, margins irregularly dentate to subentire (proximal teeth larger), apices acuminate to obtuse, faces sparsely pubescent to glabrescent. Heads 1-10+. Peduncles (6-)15-30 cm. Involucres 12-20 mm diam. Phyllaries densely pubescent on margins and apices, abaxial faces glabrescent. Paleae lanceolate to oblong, apices acuminate, faces glabrous. Ray florets 9-11; corollas golden yellow (young) to pale yellow (old), laminae (1-)2-3 cm × 5-14 mm. Disc florets 8-50+; corollas greenish yellow to yellow-brown (lobes brighter than tubes), 3-4.5 mm, glabrous. Cypselae 4.5-5 mm, glabrous, rugulose to subtuberculate; pappi 0. 2n = 28.

Flowering late spring-early fall. Open, rocky mountain slopes, canyons; 1200-2500 m; Ariz., N.Mex., Tex; Mexico (Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, Sonora, Tamaulipas).

Duration: Perennial

Nativity: Native

Lifeform: Forb/Herb

General: Herbaceous perennials, to 50 cm tall, branching from erect caudices, herbage stramineous to reddish, glabrous or sparingly hairy.

Leaves: Opposite, triangular-ovate to deltate-lanceolate, acuminate to obtuse at the tips, margins irregularly toothed, teeth larger proximally, faces sparsely pubescent to glabrescent, petioled.

Flowers: Heads showy, radiate, rays yellow, pistillate, 9-11, disk flowers 8-50 or more, corollas greenish yellow to yellow-brown receptacle conic, involucres 12-20 mm in diameter, phyllaries densely pubescent on margins and apices, abaxial faces glabrescent, paleae lanceolate to oblong, apices acuminate, faces glabrous, inflorescences borne in groups of 1-10 on long peduncles, solitary or terminal.

Fruits: Achenes short and thick, wrinkled. Pappus none.

Ecology: Found on rich soils in canyons and on rocky mountain slopes, from 4,000-8,000 ft (1219-2438 m); flowering July-October.

Distribution: Arizona New Mexico, and Texas; Mexico.

Notes: This appears to be the only species of this genus in Arizona.

Ethnobotany: Unknown

Etymology: Heliopsis is of uncertain origins, while parvifolia means small leaved.

Synonyms: None

Editor: LCrumbacher 2011