''Azara'' 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 eleven 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 ...

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 ...

Salicaceae The Salicaceae are the willow family of flowering plants. The traditional family (Salicaceae ''sensu stricto'') includes the willows, poplars. Genetic studies summarized by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group (APG) have greatly expanded the circumsc ...

. They are native to temperate to subtropical regions of South America, from southern Brazil and Bolivia to southern Argentina and Chile. They are most often found at woodland margins and lakesides. ''Azara'' was formerly classed in the family

Flacourtiaceae The Flacourtiaceae is a defunct family of flowering plants whose former members have been scattered to various families, mostly to the Achariaceae and Salicaceae. It was so vaguely defined that hardly anything seemed out of place there and it bec ...

. They are

evergreen In botany, an evergreen is a plant which has Leaf, foliage that remains green and functional throughout the year. This contrasts with deciduous plants, which lose their foliage completely during the winter or dry season. Consisting of many diffe ...

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 and small

tree In botany, a tree is a perennial plant with an elongated stem, or trunk, usually supporting branches and leaves. In some usages, the definition of a tree may be narrower, e.g., including only woody plants with secondary growth, only ...

s growing to 1–8 m tall. The

leaves A leaf (: leaves) is a principal appendage of the stem of a vascular plant, usually borne laterally above ground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", while the leaves, stem, ...

are alternate, or in some species they appear paired, are simple 1–9 cm long and 0.5–5 cm broad. The opposite-leaved appearance of some species is unusual in that one stipule is enlarged giving the appearance of opposite paired"leaves. The

flower Flowers, also known as blooms and blossoms, are the reproductive structures of flowering plants ( angiosperms). Typically, they are structured in four circular levels, called whorls, around the end of a stalk. These whorls include: calyx, m ...

s are small, yellow or greenish, strongly fragrant, with a 4-5-lobed calyx and no petals but conspicuous long, often brightly colored, stamens; flowering is in spring. The

fruit In botany, a fruit is the seed-bearing structure in flowering plants (angiosperms) that is formed from the ovary after flowering. Fruits are the means by which angiosperms disseminate their seeds. Edible fruits in particular have long propaga ...

is a red to black

berry A berry is a small, pulpy, and often edible fruit. Typically, berries are juicy, rounded, brightly colored, sweet, sour or tart, and do not have a stone or pit although many pips or seeds may be present. Common examples of berries in the cul ...

3–10 mm diameter. Several species are cultivated as

ornamental plant Ornamental plants or ''garden plants'' are plants that are primarily grown for their beauty but also for qualities such as scent or how they shape physical space. Many flowering plants and garden varieties tend to be specially bred cultivars th ...

s in

garden A garden is a planned space, usually outdoors, set aside for the cultivation, display, and enjoyment of plants and other forms of nature. The single feature identifying even the wildest wild garden is ''control''. The garden can incorporate bot ...

s. In

temperate In geography, the temperate climates of Earth occur in the middle latitudes (approximately 23.5° to 66.5° N/S of the Equator), which span between the tropics and the polar regions of Earth. These zones generally have wider temperature ran ...

regions they require the shelter of a wall.

List of species

Eleven species are currently accepted: *'' Azara alpina'' *''

Azara celastrina ''Azara celastrina'', also known as lilen, is a small tree in the family Salicaceae. It grows to a height of 10m and its native range is central Chile Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in western South America. It is th ...

'' *''

Azara dentata Azara may refer to: Places * Azara, Huesca, Spain * Azara, Misiones, Argentina * Azara, Guwahati, Assam, India ** Azara railway station * Dorsum Azara, a ridge on the moon People * Azara (name), list of people with the name Other uses * Azara ( ...

'' *'' Azara integrifolia'' – goldspire azara *'' Azara intermedia'' *''

Azara lanceolata ''Azara lanceolata'' (lanceleaf azara; "corcolen", "aromo" in Spanish) is a species of flowering plant in the family Salicaceae (it was previously categorized as Flacourtiaceae). It has been named after its lance-shaped, serrated, glossy, bright ...

'' – lanceleaf azara *'' Azara microphylla'' – boxleaf azara, with fan-like branches and small dark, glossy leaves *'' Azara petiolaris'' – holly azara, with smooth oval leaves *'' Azara salicifolia'' *'' Azara serrata'' *'' Azara uruguayensis''

References

External links

Tree Selection Guide: Azara
*Pictures and information o

an

Salicaceae Salicaceae genera Flora of Southern America Plants described in 1794 Taxa named by Hipólito Ruiz López Taxa named by José Antonio Pavón Jiménez {{Salicaceae-stub