Cordyline

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Cordyline
Cordyline fruticosa
Cordyline fruticosa
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Liliopsida
Order: Asparagales
Family: Laxmanniaceae
Genus: Cordyline
Comm. ex R.Br.
Species

See text

Cordyline is a genus of about 15 species of woody monocotyledonous flowering plants classified in Asparagaceae or alternatively the segregate family Laxmanniaceae, in the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group system, but placed by other authors in Agavaceae or Lomandraceae. The genus is native to the western Pacific Ocean region, from New Zealand, eastern Australia, southeastern Asia, Polynesia and Hawaii.

The name Cordyline comes from the Greek word for a club (kordyle), referring to enlarged rhizomes[1].

Selected species
The following species occur naturally in Australia[2]
  • Cordyline cannifolia
  • Cordyline congesta
  • Cordyline fruticosa
  • Cordyline manners-suttoniae
  • Cordyline murchisoniae
  • Cordyline petiolaris
  • Cordyline rubra
  • Cordyline stricta


[edit] Cultivation and uses

Members of the group are often grown as ornamental plants, and the cabbage tree has had culinary and other uses.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Bok-mun Ho (2006). Cordyline obtecta. Australian National Botanic Gardens. Retrieved on 2008-04-12.
  2. ^ Russell Young (June 2002). Australian Cordylines. Australian Plants online. Association of Societies for Growing Australian Plants. Retrieved on 2008-04-12.
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