Clethra
2453082
201518743
2008-03-28T06:19:47Z
Kmanblue
2834404
Added Mexican Sweetspire (Clethra pringlei) to the list.
{{Taxobox
| name = ''Clethra''
| image = Clethra arborea1.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = ''Clethra arborea'' flowers
| regnum = [[Plantae]]
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Ericales]]
| familia = [[Clethraceae]]
| genus = '''''Clethra'''''
| genus_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision = Between 30-70; see text.
}}
'''''Clethra''''' is a [[genus]] of between 30-70 [[species]] of flowering [[shrub]]s or small [[tree]]s. It is one of two genera in the family [[Clethraceae]] (the other being ''[[Purdiaea]]''). The species may be [[evergreen]] or [[deciduous]], and all bear flowers in clusters or inflorescences.
They are distributed from [[temperate]] to [[tropical]] climates in eastern and southeastern [[Asia]], [[Malesia]], [[Central America]], northern [[South America]], the southeastern [[United States]], and one species (''C. arborea'') on the island of [[Madeira]].
;Selected species
The number of species accepted varies between different authorities depending on taxonomic interpretation, but with a recent trend to reduce the number recognised as distinct; the recent ''[http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=107333 Flora of China]'' has cut the number accepted for China from 35 to 7 species, and the [http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=CLAL3 USDA] only recognises two in the United States, [[synonymy|synonymising]] ''C. tomentosa'' with ''C. alnifolia''. The following is a selection:
*''[[Clethra acuminata]]'' Michx. – Mountain Pepper Bush; southeastern United States.
*''[[Clethra alnifolia]]'' L. – Sweet Pepper Bush; southeastern United States.
*''[[Clethra arborea]]'' Ait. – Lily of the Valley Tree; Madeira.
*''[[Clethra barbinervis]]'' Siebold & Zucc. – Japanese Sweet Shrub; eastern China, Korea, Japan.
*''[[Clethra bodinieri]]'' – southern China.
*''[[Clethra brasiliensis]]'' – northeastern South America.
*''[[Clethra crispa]]'' – northwestern South America.
*''[[Clethra delavayi]]'' – southern China to Bhutan and Vietnam.
*''[[Clethra fabri]]'' – southern China, Vietnam.
*''[[Clethra fargesii]]'' – central China.
*''[[Clethra fimbriata]]'' – northwestern South America.
*''[[Clethra kaipoensis]]'' – southeastern China.
*''[[Clethra lanata]]'' – southern Mexico to Panama.
*''[[Clethra mexicana]]'' – southern Mexico, Central America.
*''[[Clethra obovata]]'' – northwestern South America.
*''[[Clethra ovalifolia]]'' – northwestern South America.
*''[[Clethra paralelinervia]]'' – northwestern South America.
*''[[Clethra petelotii]]'' – Vietnam, Yunnan.
*''[[Clethra pringlei]]'' - Mexican Summersweet; northeastern Mexico.
*''[[Clethra revoluta]]'' – northwestern South America.
*''[[Clethra rugosa]]'' – northwestern South America.
*''[[Clethra scabra]]'' – northeastern South America .
[[Category:Ericales]]
{{Ericales-stub}}
[[da:Konvalbusk-slægten]]
[[es:Clethra]]
[[ja:リョウブ]]
[[pt:Clethra]]