''Pentas lanceolata'', commonly known as Egyptian starcluster, is a species 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 ...

in the

madder ''Rubia'' is the type genus of the Rubiaceae family of flowering plants, which also contains ''Coffea'' (coffee). It contains around 80 species of perennial scrambling or climbing herbs and subshrubs native to the Old World. The genus and it ...

family,

Rubiaceae Rubiaceae () is a family (biology), family of flowering plants, commonly known as the coffee, madder, or bedstraw family. It consists of terrestrial trees, shrubs, lianas, or herbs that are recognizable by simple, opposite leaves with Petiole ( ...

that is native to tropical Africa from Sudan to Democratic Republic of the Congo and Mozambique, as well as

Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia, officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), is a country in West Asia. Located in the centre of the Middle East, it covers the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula and has a land area of about , making it the List of Asian countries ...

and

Yemen Yemen, officially the Republic of Yemen, is a country in West Asia. Located in South Arabia, southern Arabia, it borders Saudi Arabia to Saudi Arabia–Yemen border, the north, Oman to Oman–Yemen border, the northeast, the south-eastern part ...

on the Arabian Peninsula. It is known for its wide use as a garden plant where it often accompanies butterfly gardens.

Subspecies and varieties

Eight subspecies and varieties are accepted. *''Pentas lanceolata'' var. ''angustifolia'' – Tanzania (Ufipa) *''Pentas lanceolata'' subsp. ''cymosa'' – Comoro Islands *''Pentas lanceolata'' subsp. ''lanceolata'' – Eritrea to Mozambique and Saudi Arabia and Yemen *''Pentas lanceolata'' var. ''leucaster'' – eastern DR Congo to Ethiopia and northern Tanzania *''Pentas lanceolata'' var. ''nemorosa'' – Ethiopia, Kenya, and northern Tanzania *''Pentas lanceolata'' var. ''oncostipula'' – Tanzania, Malawi, and Mozambique *''Pentas lanceolata'' subsp. ''quartiniana'' – Eritrea, Ethiopia, Burundi, and eastern DR Congo *''Pentas lanceolata'' var. ''usambarica'' – eastern

Usambara Mountains The Usambara Mountains of northeastern Tanzania in tropical East Africa, comprise the easternmost ranges of the Eastern Arc Mountains. The ranges are approximately long and about half that wide, and they are situated in the Lushoto District ...

of Tanzania File:Pentas lanceolata Flowers.JPG, White flowers File:Pentas lanceolata2.jpg, Pink flowers File:Pentas lanceolata In Guntur.jpg, Pink flowers File:Cologne Germany Flora-Köln-Pentas-lanceolata-01.jpg, Red flowers

References

lanceolata Plants described in 1775 Flora of the Comoros Flora of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Flora of Djibouti Flora of Eritrea Flora of Ethiopia Flora of Kenya Flora of Malawi Flora of Mozambique Flora of Sudan Flora of Rwanda Flora of Saudi Arabia Flora of Tanzania Flora of Uganda Flora of Yemen {{Rubioideae-stub