Calliandra is a genus of flowering plants in the pea family, Fabaceae, in the mimosoid clade of the subfamily Caesalpinioideae. It contains about 140 species that are native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas.[2]

Calliandra
Calliandra haematocephala
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Caesalpinioideae
Clade: Mimosoid clade
Genus: Calliandra
Benth.[1]
Species

See text.

Synonyms[1]
  • Anneslia Salisb.
  • Clelia Casar.
  • Codonandra H.Karst.
  • Guinetia L.Rico & M.Sousa

Description edit

The genus comprises herbaceous perennial plants, shrubs, and rarely small trees, growing 0.5–6 m (1.5–19.5 feet) tall, with bipinnate leaves. The flowers are produced in cylindrical or globose inflorescences and have numerous long slender stamens which give rise to the common names powder-puff, powder puff plant, and fairy duster. These plants flower all year round, but the best blooming is in spring and summer. They can be easily pruned.

Calliandra are often fed on by caterpillars, such as the larvae of statira sulphur (Aphrissa statira).[3] It is available in many vibrant colours such as pink, white, etc.

Species edit

The following is an alphabetical listing of the 149 species in the genus Genus that are accepted by Plants of the World Online as of July 2022[1]

Formerly placed here edit

Gallery edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Calliandra Benth". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  2. ^ de Souza ER, de Queiroz LP, Lewis GP, Forest F, Schnadelbach AS, van den Berg C (2013). "Phylogeny of Calliandra (Leguminosae: Mimosoideae) based on nuclear and plastid molecular markers". Taxon. 62 (6): 1200–1219. doi:10.12705/626.2.
  3. ^ Srygley, Robert B.; Dudley, Robert; Oliveira, Evandro G.; Riveros, Andre J. (2006). "Experimental evidence for a magnetic sense in Neotropical migrating butterflies (Lepidoptera: Pieridae)". Animal Behaviour. 71 (1): 183–191. doi:10.1016/j.anbehav.2005.04.013. S2CID 25203050.
  4. ^ "Viguieranthus alternans (Benth.) Villiers". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 22 October 2022.