Azara (plant)
| Azara | |
|---|---|
 | |
| A. dentata | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Malpighiales |
| Family: | Salicaceae |
| Tribe: | Flacourtieae[1] |
| Genus: | Azara Ruiz & Pav. |
| Species | |
|
See text. | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Arechavaletaia Speg. | |
Azara is a genus of ten species of flowering plants in the family Salicaceae, native to temperate to subtropical regions of South America. They are most often found at woodland margins and lakesides.[2] Azara was formerly classed in the family Flacourtiaceae.
They are evergreen shrubs and small trees growing to 1-8 m tall. The leaves are alternate, or in some species they appear paired, are simple 1-9 cm long and 0.5-5 cm broad. The opposite-leaved appearance of some species is unusual in that one stipule is enlarged giving the appearance of opposite ["paired"] leaves. The flowers are small, yellow or greenish, strongly fragrant, with a 4-5-lobed calyx and no petals but conspicuous long, often brightly colored, stamens; flowering is in spring. The fruit is a red to black berry 3-10 mm diameter.
Several species are cultivated as ornamental plants in gardens. In temperate regions they require the shelter of a wall.[2]
List of species
- Azara alpina
- Azara celastrina
- Azara dentata
- Azara integrifolia Goldspire Azara
- Azara lanceolata Lanceleaf Azara
- Azara microphylla Boxleaf Azara, with fan-like branches and small dark, glossy leaves
- Azara petiolaris Holly Azara, with smooth oval leaves
- Azara salicifolia
- Azara serrata
- Azara uruguayensis
References
- ↑ "Genus Azara". Taxonomy. UniProt. Retrieved 2010-02-03.
- 1 2 RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 1405332964.
External links
- Tree Selection Guide: Azara
- Pictures and information of A. dentata, A. microphylla and A. petiolaris