Tibouchina Aubl.

Tibouchina grossa Páramo of Guasca, Colombia

Tibouchina /ˌtɪbuːˈkaɪnə/^[1][2] is a genus of about 350 species of neotropical plants in the family Melastomataceae. They are trees, shrubs or subshrubs growing 0.5–25 m tall, and are known as glory bushes or glory trees. They are native to rainforests of Mexico, the Caribbean, and South America, especially Brazil. The name comes from an adaptation of a term for a member of this genus in an indigenous language of the Guianas.^[2]

Selected species[edit]

• Tibouchina anderssonii Wurdack
• Tibouchina bicolor
• Tibouchina campii Wurdack
• Tibouchina clavata
• Tibouchina elegans Cogn.
• Tibouchina gaudichaudiana
• Tibouchina gleasoniana Wurdack
• Tibouchina grandiflora (=T. heteromalla)
• Tibouchina granulosa
• Tibouchina herbacea
• Tibouchina heteromalla - silver-leaved princess flower

Cultivation[edit]

Tibouchina clavata from Brazil

Several species are cultivated for their large bright flowers. As tropical plants they are rather cold-sensitive, and should be raised in a greenhouse wherever temperatures fall below 8 °C to 10 °C.

One species, Tibouchina lepidota 'Alstonville', known for its brilliant display of flowers in late summer and autumn is common in many parts of Australia.

Invasive potential[edit]

All Tibouchina species are considered noxious weeds in Hawaii^[3] because of their high potential for being invasive species.^[4][5][6]

References[edit]

1. ^ Sunset Western Garden Book, 1995:606–607
2. ^ ^{a b} "Tibouchina." Webster's Third New International Dictionary of the English Language, Unabridged. Merriam Webster, 1961.
3. ^ Hawaii Administrative Rules, Title 4 Department of Agriculture, Subtitle 6 Division of Plant Industry, Chapter 68, Noxious Weed Rules (http://www.hawaiiag.org/hdoa/adminrules/AR-68.pdf, cited 5 February 2007)
4. ^ Tibouchina urvilleana: Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk project [PIER] data (http://www.hear.org/pier/species/tibouchina_herbacea.htm, accessed 5 February 2007)
5. ^ Plants of Hawaii reports: Tibouchina longifolia (http://www.hear.org/starr/hiplants/reports/html/tibouchina_longifolia.htm, accessed 5 February 2007)
6. ^ Plants of Hawaii reports: Tibouchina urvilleana (http://www.hear.org/starr/hiplants/reports/html/tibouchina_urvilleana.htm, accessed 5 February 2007)