Caesalpinia

Caesalpinia
Caesalpinia pulcherrima
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Caesalpinioideae
Tribe: Caesalpinieae
Genus: Caesalpinia
 Plum. ex L. (1853)
Type species
Caesalpinia brasiliensis
L.[2]
Species[1]

10; see text

Synonyms[1]
  • Campecia Adans. (1763), nom. superfl.
  • Poincia Neck. (1790), opus utique oppr.
  • Poinciana Tourn. ex L. (1753)
  • Radackia Cham. & Endl. (1836)

Caesalpinia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae. It includes 10 species which range from southeastern Mexico through Central America to Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, and to Cuba, Hispaniola, and the Bahamas.[1]

Taxonomy

Historically, membership within the genus has been highly variable, with different publications including anywhere from 70 to 165 species, depending largely on the inclusion or exclusion of species alternately listed under genera such as Hoffmannseggia. It contains tropical or subtropical woody plants. The generic name honours the botanist, physician, and philosopher Andrea Cesalpino (1519–1603).[3]

The genus also had a synonym of Poinciana; it was named after a common name for the one species which was placed in now named Delonix regia, after Phillippe de Longvilliers de Poincy, who was the French governor of the Caribbean island of Saint Kitts.[4] The name Caesalpiniaceae at family level, or Caesalpinioideae at the level of subfamily, is based on this generic name.

Species

10 species are currently accepted:[1]

Uses

Some species are grown for their ornamental flowers.

References

  1. ^ a b c d Caesalpinia Plum. ex L. Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  2. ^ "Caesalpinia L." TROPICOS. Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved 2009-10-19.
  3. ^ Gledhill, David (2008). The Names of Plants (4th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 83. ISBN 978-0-521-86645-3.
  4. ^ Rice, Diana (8 May 1938). "Poinciana Trees on the Island of St. Kitts". Notes For The Traveler. The New York Times. p. 171.