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Magnoliopsida
Genipa L.
EOL Text
Genipa, the genip-trees, are a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. This genus is closely allied to Gardenia; several Gardenia species were originally placed in Genipa. It is not to be confused with genip (Melicoccus bijugatus), a completely unrelated eudicot. The name is derived from genipapo, the Guianan[disambiguation needed] name for G. americana (commonly known as Huito). The genus is also commonly called jagua, xagua or xaqua.
Most authors today restrict Genipa to the New World species, transferring the Old World species to other genera. The ten species from Madagascar, originally described by Drake, are referred to as Genipa sensu Drake. They do not belong to the Rubiaceae tribe Gardenieae like the New World Genipa species and their Australasian relatives, but in the tribe Octotropideae. The Genipa species sensu Drake are better placed in the otherwise South African genus Hyperacanthus. Other species are now in Randia, and a number of additional genera. Altogether, a mere 3 species are nowadays included in Genipa; even of the Neotropical taxa, many are now included in the widespread and variable G. americana.[1]
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Description[edit]
Genip trees are shrubs and medium-sized (up to 18 m tall) trees[verification needed], native to tropical regions of the Americas.
The bark is mostly[verification needed] smooth and gray. The dense foliage consists of opposite leaves that are sessile or with short peduncles[verification needed]. They are mostly[verification needed] clustered at the tips of the branches. The leathery leaves have an oblanceolate, elliptic or obovate shape[verification needed]. The ovate and acuminate stipules are interpetiolar, fused at base.
The inflorescence is axillary or terminal[verification needed]. The flowers are solitary or few in a cyme[verification needed]. They are at first white or creamy-white, but turn yellow later on. The flowers are sexually dimorphic; they can be bisexual or functionally unisexual[verification needed]. The male flowers ripen before the female flowers. The short, tubular calyx has five or six small lobes[verification needed]. The bell-shaped corolla consists of five symmetrical left-contorted oblong petals, rounded at their apex. The stamens lie between the corolla lobes, exserting for half their length. The style projects beyond the corolla. The inferior ovary is 2-locular, with many ovules per locule. The fruit is a succulent berry with a thick rind, the size of a small lime.
The fruits of these culturally significant plants are edible. The wood is used in handicraft.
List of species[edit]
The three remaining good species placed in Genipa are:[1]
- Genipa americana – Huito, genipapo, hawa or wituq (Quechua)
- Genipa infundibuliformis Zappi & J.Semir
- Genipa spruceana Steyerm.
Formerly placed here[edit]
In addition to those species now in Gardenia, Hyperacanthus and Randia, former members of Genipa are:[1]
- Agouticarpa curviflora, Agouticarpa williamsii
- Aidia vieillardii
- Alibertia edulis
- Bertiera spicata (as G. labiata)
- Burchellia bubalina (as G. capensis)
- Casasia calophylla, Casasia clusiifolia, Casasia nigrescens
- Catunaregam spinosa (as G. dumetorum)
- Ceriscoides campanulat
- Duroia eriopila, D. eriopila var. eriopila (as G. merianae)
- Fagerlindia esculenta
- Glossostipula concinna (as G. vulcanicola)
- Rothmannia capensis (as G. rothmannia), Rothmannia whitfieldii (as G. malleifera)
- Rosenbergiodendron formosum (as G. mussaendae)
- Simira maxonii
- Sphinctanthus striiflorus (as G. striiflora)
- Tarenna asiatica (as G. pavetta)
- Tocoyena cubensis (as G. longiflora)
Genipa vaginata Baill. from New Caledonia is of unclear affiliation, but almost certainly does not actually belong in the present genus.
Footnotes[edit]
References[edit]
- Govaerts, R.; Andersson, L.; Robbrecht, E.; Bridson, D.; Davis, A.; Schanzer, I. & Sonke, B. (2005): World Checklist of Rubiaceae – Genipa. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2008-DEC-27.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Wikipedia |
Source | http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Genipa&oldid=638271163 |
Depth range based on 4 specimens in 1 taxon.
Environmental ranges
Depth range (m): 0.5 - 0.5
Note: this information has not been validated. Check this *note*. Your feedback is most welcome.
License | http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Ocean Biogeographic Information System |
Source | http://www.iobis.org/mapper/?taxon_id=793524 |
Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD) Stats
Specimen Records:22
Specimens with Sequences:21
Specimens with Barcodes:18
Species:3
Species With Barcodes:3
Public Records:12
Public Species:3
Public BINs:0