Purdiaea is a genus of flowering plants in the family Clethraceae described as a genus in 1846.Planchon, Jules Émile. 1846. London Journal of Botany 5: 250-254 descriptions in Latin, commentary in FrenchPlanchon, Jules Émile. 1846. London Journal of Botany 5: plate IX line drawing as illustrationTropicos, Purdiaea Planch. It is one of two genera in this family, and was formerly classified in the related family Cyrillaceae. Purdiaea is native to tropical regions of the Caribbean (with the highest species diversity on Cuba), Central America and northern South America, further south than the related genus Clethra, the only other genus of this family.
The genus is composed of shrubs and small trees with alternating leaves.
Selected species Purdiaea belizensis (A.C.Sm. & Standl.) J.L.Thomas – "Belize purdiaea", Central America. Purdiaea cubensis (A.Rich.) Urb. – "Cuban purdiaea", "Clavellina", Southeast US, Cuba. Purdiaea ekmanii Vict. – Cuba Purdiaea microphylla Britton & P.Wilson – Cuba Purdiaea nipensis Vict. & León – Cuba Purdiaea nutans G.Planch. – Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru Purdiaea ophiticola Vict. – Cuba Purdiaea shaferi Britton – Cuba Purdiaea stenopetala Griseb. – Cuba Purdiaea tereosepala J.L.Thomas – Cuba Purdiaea velutina Britton & P.Wilson – Cuba
References
External links Anderberg, A. A. & Zhang, Z. (2002). Phylogenetic relationships of Cyrillaceae and Clethraceae (Ericales) with special emphasis on the genus Purdiaea. Organisms, Div. & Evol. 2: 127–137 abstract. Notes on the genus Purdiaea New York Botanical Gardens: Purdiaea herbarium specimens list Photo of P. nutans