A análise multivariada da composição química dos óleos essenciais de treze espécies de Hypenia indicou a presença de dois grupos de óleos em relação às seções botânicas das amostras. O primeiro grupo (grupo I) incluiu as três espécies da seção Densiflorae em adição a H. subrosea e H. aristulata, o qual foi caracterizado pelo maior percentual de a-muurolol (5,85 ± 3,08%). No grupo II, com oito espécies da seção Laxiflorae, os principais constituintes discriminantes foram o (E)-cariofileno (7,09 ± 4,88%), germacreno D (18,1 ± 11,4%) e o biciclogermacreno (6,65 ± 1,19%). Todos os óleos essenciais apresentaram predominantemente sesquiterpenos, tais como espatulenol (4,5-31,6%), óxido de cariofileno (2,2-14,4%) e selin-11-en-4a-ol (0-34,8%). Os agrupamentos foram idênticos quando utilizada a análise multivariada baseada nos esqueletos carbônicos dos constituintes químicos ou de 18 caracteres morfológicos das folhas das espécies.Multivariate analysis of essential oil compositions of thirteen Hypenia species revealed the presence of two taxonomic clusters. Cluster I included three species belonging to section Densiflorae in addition to H. subrosea and H. aristulata, and showed the highest percentages of a-muurolol (5.85 ± 3.08%). In Cluster II, which contained eight species belonging to section Laxiflorae, the major discriminant constituents were (E)-caryophyllene (7.09 ± 4.88%), germacrene D (18.1 ± 11.4%), and bicyclogermacrene (6.65 ± 1.19%). All essential oils showed a predominance of sesquiterpenes, such as spathulenol (4.5-31.6%), caryophyllene oxide (2.2-14.4%) and selin-11-en-4a-ol (0-34.8%). Furthermore, identical clusters were revealed by multivariate analysis of chemical constituents based on carbon skeletons, as well as on 18 morphological leaf characters of the species studied. Hypenia contains 27 recognized species on the basis of lax or dense inflorescences including sections Densiflorae Benth. and Laxiflorae Benth. Keywords2,3 Hypenia species are usually found in oligotrophic and sandy soils with high levels of aluminum, and are distributed over some regions of Venezuela, Bolivia, Paraguay and southern Brazil. In Brazil, they are more common in Cerrado regions where a greater diversity and endemism may be found. Hypenia species are aromatic and are frequently reported in Brazilian Cerrado for their ethnobotanical use, such as the infusion or decoction Since all of them are morphologically and anatomically similar, it is important to find alternative methods of interspecific chemical identification in order to complement analyses of floral traits.Therefore, this research investigates the chemical constituents of essential oils of thirteen unknown species of Brazilian Hypenia, thus contributing to future taxonomic studies of the genus. We analyzed disability data, as well as species considered rare in Brazil. 6 In light of the possible chemotaxonomic significance of the oils, results from the chemical analysis were compared with leaf anatomy and taxonomy. For this purpose, essential oils from individuals ...