| Clusia | |
|---|---|
| Clusia fluminensis | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Malpighiales |
| Family: | Clusiaceae |
| Subfamily: | Clusioideae |
| Tribe: | Clusieae |
| Genus: | Clusia L. |
| Species | |
|
Around 145, see text |
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Androstylium Miq. |
|
Clusia is the type genus of the family Clusiaceae. Comprising 140-150 species, it is native to tropical and subtropical America. Its species are shrubs, vines and small to medium-size trees up to 20 m tall, with evergreen foliage. Some species start life as epiphytes, then developing long roots that descend to the ground and eventually strangle and kill the host tree, in a manner similar to strangler figs.
The leaves are opposite, 5-20 cm long and 5-10 cm broad, with a leathery texture and an entire margin. The flowers are white to greenish-white, yellow or pink, with 4-9 petals. The fruit is a leathery greenish-brown valvate capsule which splits open to release several red, fleshy-coated seeds.
The genus Clusia was named in honor of botanist Carolus Clusius.
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