Phoebe (plant)
| Phoebe | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Phoebe formosana. | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Magnoliids |
| Order: | Laurales |
| Family: | Lauraceae |
| Genus: | Phoebe Nees |
| Species | |
|
approximately 100, including: | |
Phoebe is a genus of evergreen trees and shrubs belonging to the Laurel family, Lauraceae. There are approximately 100 species in the genus, distributed in tropical and subtropical Asia and neotropical America. 35 species occur in China.[1] The first description of the genus was of the type species P. lanceolata made in 1836 by Christian Gottfried Daniel Nees von Esenbeck in Systema Laurinarum, p. 98.
Description
Phoebe species are evergreen shrubs or trees with pinnate leaves. The flowers are hermaphrodite, white, small and fragrant, and are grouped in branched terminal inflorescences in the form of panicles. The bracts are all of equal length or the outer ones are slightly shorter than the inner ones. The ovary is oval to spherical. The stigma is capitate or bowl-shaped. The fruits are enveloped by the enlarged bracts. Fruits are usually oval to spherical. The fruit is a berry and has only a single seed that is frequently dispersed by birds.
Distribution
100 species of Phoebe are currently reported in Asia and South America, with 35 species endemic to China.[citation needed] They have a broad distribution across northern South America (Venezuela, Colombia, Peru), Central America (Mexico to Panamá and Costa Rica) [citation needed], South East Asia, India, China, Philippines, Australia, Borneo, Papua New Guinea and into the western Pacific Ocean. There are species of Phoebe which are endemic to islands, having been dispersed by birds.
Ecology
Phoebe grow in laurel forest, tropical and subtropical mountain cloud forest and temperate coastal lowland forest habitats.[citation needed] In places these habitats are subject to deforestation. Little is known about the species diversity of the genus; many species are poorly determined.[citation needed] The genus is threatened by habitat loss. The differences between species are ecological adaptations to different environments in relatively dry or wet climates. Species in drier climates are smaller or less robust, with less abundant, thinner, aromatic foliage.[citation needed]
The fruits of the genus are fleshy berries.
Species
- Phoebe angustifolia
- Phoebe bournei
- Phoebe brachythyrsa
- Phoebe chekiangensis
- Phoebe cinnamomifolia
- Phoebe chinensis
- Phoebe cooperiana[2]
- Phoebe faberi
- Phoebe formosana
- Phoebe forrestii
- Phoebe glaucophylla
- Phoebe hainanensis
- Phoebe hui
- Phoebe hunanensis
- Phoebe hungmaoensis
- Phoebe kwangsiensis
- Phoebe lanceolata
- Phoebe legendrei
- Phoebe lichuanensis
- Phoebe macrocarpa
- Phoebe megacalyx
- Phoebe microphylla
- Phoebe minutiflora
- Phoebe motuonan
- Phoebe nanmu
- Phoebe neurantha
- Phoebe neuranthoides
- Phoebe nigrifolia
- Phoebe pandurata
- Phoebe puwenensis
- Phoebe rufescens
- Phoebe sheareri
- Phoebe tavoyana
- Phoebe yaiensis
- Phoebe yunnanensis
- Phoebe zhennan
References
- ↑ Fa-Nan Wei & Henk van der Werff. "Phoebe". Flora of China. Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
- ↑ http://indiabiodiversity.org/species/show/223824