Critonia | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
(unranked): | Angiosperms |
(unranked): | Eudicots |
(unranked): | Asterids |
Order: | Asterales |
Family: | Asteraceae |
Tribe: | Eupatorieae |
Genus: |
Critonia P.Browne |
Type species | |
Critonia dalea (L.) DC. |
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Synonyms | |
Dalea P.Browne 1756,rejected name, not Mill. 1754 (Solanaceae) nor L. 1758 (Fabaceae) nor Gaertn. 1788 (Scrophulariaceae) nor P.Browne 1756 |
Dalea P.Browne 1756,rejected name, not Mill. 1754 (Solanaceae) nor L. 1758 (Fabaceae) nor Gaertn. 1788 (Scrophulariaceae) nor P.Browne 1756
Critonia is a genus of flowering plant in the subtribe Eupatorieae of the sunflower family.
The most notable trait that characterizes the genus is the presence of pellucid punctations caused by internal secretory pockets of the leaves - to be seen these must be viewed with a hand lens while holding the leaf up to light in most species of the genus. Most species of Critonia also have smooth opposite leaves, a shrubby habit, unenlarged style bases, relatively few (3-5) flowers per head, and imbricate involucres.
The genus is native to Mexico, Central America, South America, and the West Indies.