Warszewiczia (or Warscewiczia) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. They are primarily tropical Central and South American trees and shrubs. Perhaps the most famous member of the genus is W. coccinea (chaconia), which is the national flower of Trinidad and Tobago.

Warszewiczia
Warszewiczia coccinea
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Gentianales
Family: Rubiaceae
Subfamily: Ixoroideae
Tribe: Dialypetalantheae
Genus: Warszewiczia
Klotzsch
Type species
Warszewiczia coccinea
(Vahl) Klotzsch

Description edit

The inflorescences show leaf-shaped, bright-colored calycophylls, expanded foliaceous structures made from floral petaloids with enlarged showy calyx-lobes. Their main task is to attract pollinators.

Taxonomy edit

This genus was named after Józef Warszewicz, a 19th-century Polish orchid collector and inspector of the botanic gardens in Kraków, Poland. Warszawa is also the Polish name for Warsaw – capital city of Poland.

Species edit

External links edit