Melianthus is a genus of flowering plants native to elevated grassland in South Africa. A common name for these plants is honey flower, which is also the English translation of the Latin name.[1] This name also attaches to the species M. comosus and M. major that are found in cultivation.
| Melianthus | |
|---|---|
| |
| M. major | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Geraniales |
| Family: | Francoaceae |
| Genus: | Melianthus L. |
| Species | |
|
See text | |
The genus contains up to six species of evergreen shrubs. They have large pinnate leaves with prominent stipules, and erect racemes of nectar-rich flowers.[2] The vegetative parts are very toxic.[3]
Species edit
The species include:[4]
- Melianthus comosus Vahl
- Melianthus dregeanus Sond.
- Melianthus elongatus Wijnands
- Melianthus major L.
- Melianthus pectinatus Harv.
- Melianthus villosus Bolus
References edit
- ^ Coombes, Allen J. (2012). The A to Z of plant names. USA: Timber Press. pp. 312. ISBN 9781604691962.
- ^ RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 978-1405332965.
- ^ Hansen, Dennis M.; Olesen, Jens M.; Mione, Thomas; Johnson, Steven D.; Müller, Christine B. (2007). "Coloured nectar: distribution, ecology, and evolution of an enigmatic floral trait" (PDF). Biological Reviews. 82 (1): 83–111. doi:10.1111/j.1469-185X.2006.00005.x. PMID 17313525. S2CID 21719506. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
- ^ "Melianthus". The Plant List (2013). Version 1.1. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
External links edit
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