Colletia is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the Rhamnaceae family, with five species of spiny shrubs. All species of this genus are native to southern South America. They are non-legume nitrogen fixers.
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 (as Colletia tetrandra Clos) Retanilla trinervia (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