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]]