''Colletia'' is a
genus
Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...
of
flowering plant
Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (). The term angiosperm is derived from the Ancient Greek, Greek words (; 'container, vessel') and (; 'seed'), meaning that the seeds are enclosed with ...
s in the
family
Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...
Rhamnaceae
The Rhamnaceae are a large Family (biology), family of flowering plants, mostly trees, shrubs, and some vines, commonly called the buckthorn family. Rhamnaceae is included in the order Rosales.
The family contains about 55 genera and 950 specie ...
, with five species of spiny
shrub
A shrub or bush is a small to medium-sized perennial woody plant. Unlike herbaceous plants, shrubs have persistent woody stems above the ground. Shrubs can be either deciduous or evergreen. They are distinguished from trees by their multiple ...
s. All
species
A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...
of this genus are native to southern South America. They are
non-legume nitrogen fixer
Actinorhizal plants are a group of angiosperms characterized by their ability to form a symbiosis with the nitrogen fixing actinomycetota ''Frankia''. This association leads to the formation of nitrogen-fixing root nodules.
Actinorhizal plants ar ...
s.
Taxonomy
Species
''Colletia'' comprises the following species:
* ''
Colletia hystrix''
Clos - pink crucifixion thorn
* ''
Colletia paradoxa''
(Spreng.) Escal. - crucifixion thorn, thorn of the cross, anchor plant
* ''
Colletia spartioides''
Bertero ex Colla
* ''
Colletia spinosissima''
J.F.Gmel.
* ''
Colletia ulicina''
Gillies & Hook.
Species names with uncertain taxonomic status
The status of the following species and hybrids is unresolved:
* ''Colletia crenata''
Regel (
unplaced)
* ''Colletia cruzerillo''
Bertero (unplaced)
* ''Colletia disperma''
Moc. & Sessé ex DC. (unplaced)
* ''Colletia horrida''
Brongn. ex Drap. (unplaced)
* ''Colletia velutina''
Spreng. (unplaced)
Formerly placed here
* ''
Celtis iguanaea'' (as ''Colletia iguanaea''
Scop.)
* ''
Discaria americana'' (as ''Colletia longispina'' and ''C. longissima''
Steud.)
* ''
Retanilla stricta
''Retanilla'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rhamnaceae, native to Chile, Peru, and Argentina. The species in this genus are actinorhizal plants.
Taxonomy
''Retanilla'' comprises the following species:
* ''Retanilla ephedra'' (Vent ...
'' (as ''Colletia tetrandra''
Clos)
* ''
Retanilla trinervia
''Retanilla trinervia'' is a species
A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It i ...
'' (as ''Colletia treba''
Bertero ex Colla)
* ''
Rhamnus diffusa'' (as ''Colletia maytenoides''
Griseb.)
* ''
Scutia spicata'' (as ''Colletia spicata''
Humb. & Bonpl. ex Schult.)
* ''
Trevoa campanulata'' (as ''Colletia campanulata''
Phil.)
* ''
Trevoa quinquenervia'' (as ''Colletia tralhuen''
Bertero ex Colla)
References
*
External links
*
Strange Wonderful Things: Colletia paradoxa
Rhamnaceae
Rhamnaceae genera
{{Rhamnaceae-stub