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Cephalanthus

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Cephalanthus
Cephalanthus occidentalis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Gentianales
Family: Rubiaceae
Subfamily: Cinchonoideae
Tribe: Naucleeae
Genus: Cephalanthus
L.[1]
Type species
Cephalanthus occidentalis
Species[1]
Synonyms[1]
  • Acrodryon Spreng.
  • Axolus Raf.
  • Eresimus Raf.
  • Gilipus Raf.
  • Silamnus Raf.

Cephalanthus is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. There are five extant species[1] that are commonly known as buttonbush.[3][4]

Description

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They are shrubs or small trees growing to 5–15 m (16–49 ft) tall. The leaves are simple, arranged in opposite pairs or whorls of three. The flowers form a dense globular inflorescence.[citation needed]

Distribution and habitat

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Cephalanthus occidentalis is native to the eastern United States and Canada. The others occur in tropical regions of the Americas, Africa and Asia.[5] Two species are known in cultivation.[6]

Systematics

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Cephalanthus was named by Linnaeus in Species Plantarum in 1753.[7] The generic name is derived from the Ancient Greek words κέφαλη (kephale), meaning "head", and ἄνθος (anthos), meaning "flower".[8]

Taxonomy

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Cephalanthus is the most basal genus in the tribe Naucleeae.[9] Some authors have segregated it into its own monotypic tribe.[10] The type species is Cephalanthus occidentalis.[11]

Species

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The following five extant species are accepted:[1][4][12]

Fossil record

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Sixteen fossil mericarps of †Cephalanthus pusillus have been described from middle Miocene strata of the Fasterholt area near Silkeborg in Central Jutland, Denmark.[13]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Cephalanthus L." Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
  2. ^ "Cephalanthus L." International Plant Names Index (IPNI). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Harvard University Herbaria & Libraries; Australian National Botanic Gardens. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
  3. ^ "Cephalanthus — The Plant List". www.theplantlist.org. Retrieved 2024-12-08.
  4. ^ a b "Cephalanthus in Flora of China @ efloras.org". www.efloras.org. Retrieved 2024-12-08.
  5. ^ Mabberley DJ (2008). Mabberley's Plant Book (3rd ed.). Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-82071-4.
  6. ^ Huxley AJ et al. (eds.) The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. The Macmillan Press Limited, London; The Stockton Press, New York. 1992. ISBN 978-0-333-47494-5
  7. ^ Linné, Carl von; Linné, Carl von (1753). Species plantarum : exhibentes plantas rite cognitas ad genera relatas, cum diferentiis specificis, nominibus trivialibus, synonymis selectis, locis natalibus, secundum systema sexuale digestas. Vol. t.1 (1753). Berlin: Junk.
  8. ^ Quattrocchi, U. (2000). CRC World Dictionary of Plant Names. Vol. 1. Boca Raton, New York, Washington DC, London: CRC Press. p. 476. ISBN 978-0-8493-2675-2.
  9. ^ Manns, Ulrika; Bremer, Birgitta (July 2010). "Towards a better understanding of intertribal relationships and stable tribal delimitations within Cinchonoideae s.s. (Rubiaceae)". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 56 (1): 21–39. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2010.04.002.
  10. ^ Ridsdale CE (1976). "A revision of the tribe Cephalantheae (Rubiaceae)". Blumea. 23 (1): 177–88.
  11. ^ "Cephalanthus". naturalhistory2.si.edu. Retrieved 2024-12-08.
  12. ^ "Cephalanthus tetrandrus (Roxb.) Ridsdale & Bakh.f." WFO Plant list. June 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  13. ^ Friis, Else Marie, 1985, Angiosperm Fruits and Seeds from the Middle Miocene of Jutland (Denmark), The Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters 24:3
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