| Davilla | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Flower and stem of Davilla kunthii | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Dilleniales |
| Family: | Dilleniaceae |
| Genus: | Davilla Vand. |
| Type species | |
| Davilla rugosaPoir | |
| Synonyms | |
Hieronia Vell. | |
Davilla is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Dilleniaceae. [1] It has around 30 neotropical, [2] species and is one of the most diverse genera of lianas, vines, erect or scandent (or climbing) shrubs. [3]
Davilla plants are classed as lianas or shrubs, [4] and they are similar in form to that of species in Tetracera or Dillenia genus. [5] However, they can be identified from other Dilleniaceae genera plants due to several features; having sepals unequal in size, with the two inner ones larger, becoming crustaceous (having a hard shell) and covering the fruit completely, a paniculate inflorescence and the fruit being a capsule. [3] They are hermaphroditic plants (or bisexual - bearing both male and female reproductive organs). It has leaves which are often scabrous (rough to the touch) and pubescent with simple trichomes (hairs or bristles). The petioles (leaf stalks) are winged to narrowly recurve-winged. The inflorescences panicles are terminal (at the end of branches) or axillary (at leaf junctions) in the upper nodes. [4] The flower has 5 sepals, which are uneven. The 3 outer ones are small and 2 inners ones are larger. [4] [3] [5] It has 3–6 petals, [4] which are deciduous. [5] It has numerous stamens and 1-2 carpels (female reproductive organ), which are capsular and contain 1 compartment. [4] [5] It has 2 ovules and erect and basal clavate (club-shaped) styles. It also has peltate (shield-like) and emarginate (notched at the apex) stigmas. [4] The sepals later become leathery and begin enveloping the fruit, [4] and simulating a globose shaped capsule. [5] [4] Inside the capsule, are 1-2 smooth seeds which are surrounded by an aril (a membranous or fleshy appendage). [4]
Not much of the reproductive biology of the genus Davilla is known. Noting floral visitors, among reports concerning the genus Davilla, Ducke (1902) reported that bee species, Halictus Latreille had visited the flowers of Davilla rugosaPoir. [6] Kuhlmann & Kühn in 1947 indicated bees and other insects were listed as pollinators of Davilla rugosa. [7] Croat in 1978, then verified flowers of Davilla nitida(Vahl) Kubitzki were being visited by (stingless bee species) Partamona cupira Smith 1863. [8] [2]
The genus name of Davilla is either named in honour of Pedro Franco Dávila (1711–1786), [9] a Peruvian and Spanish naturalist and collector, [10] or according to George Don in 1831, Henry Catherine Davilla (Enrico Caterino Davila) an Italian historian who died in 1599. [5]
The genus was first published and described by Domenico Vandelli in Fl. Lusit. Brasil. Spec. collation 35 in 1788. [11] [12] It was then reprinted in Script. Pl. Hispan. (edited by J.J. Roemer), Vol.115 in 1796. [1]
The type species is Davilla rugosaPoir. [12]
The taxonomy of the genus Davilla was revised in 2012. [13]
According to Kew; [1]
The genus is accepted by United States Department of Agriculture and the Agricultural Research Service, they accept 2 species; Davilla nitida (Vahl) Kubitzki and Davilla rugosa Poir. [14]
Its native range is between Mexico and tropical America. It is found in the countries of; Belize, Bolivia, [2] Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, [2] Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela. [1]
The greatest Davilla species diversity is located in Brazil, [3] up to 12 species can be found in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil. [15]
It is found in moist or wet forests, [2] often in hilly pine forests. [16] Also in forest clearings and borders. [2]
It grows at altitudes of 350–450 metres (1,150–1,480 ft) above sea level. [16]
Davilla elliptica and Davilla nitida as well as Alchornea glandulosa (a tree species), have properties that could be used in the treatment of peptic ulcers. The leaves of Davilla elliptica have been used in folk medicine to treat diseases such as inflammation and other ulcers. [17]
Davilla glazioviiEichler is included on the red list of Brazil, due to habitat loss and predatory extractivism (the extracting of natural resources). [15]
Saxifragales is an order of angiosperms, or flowering plants, containing 15 botanical families and around 100 genera, with nearly 2,500 species. Of the 15 families, many are small, with eight of them being monotypic. The largest family is the Crassulaceae (stonecrops), a diverse group of mostly succulent plants, with about 35 genera. Saxifragales are found worldwide, primarily in temperate to subtropical zones, rarely being encountered growing wild in the tropics; however, many species are now cultivated throughout the world as knowledge of plant husbandry has improved. They can be found in a wide variety of environments, from deserts to fully aquatic habitats, with species adapted to alpine, forested or fully-aquatic habitats. Many are epiphytic or lithophytic, growing on exposed cliff faces, on trees or on rocks, and not requiring a highly organic or nutrient-dense substrate to thrive.
Sapindus is a genus of about thirteen species of shrubs and small trees in the lychee family, Sapindaceae and tribe Sapindeae. It is native to warm temperate to tropical regions of the world. The genus includes both deciduous and evergreen species. Members of the genus are commonly known as soapberries or soapnuts because the fruit pulp is used to make soap. The generic name is derived from the Latin words sapo, meaning "soap", and indicus, meaning "of India".
Ardisia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Primulaceae. It was in the former Myrsinaceae family now recognised as the myrsine sub-family Myrsinoideae. They are distributed in the Americas, Asia, Australia, and the Pacific Islands, mainly in the tropics. There are over 700 accepted species. One species, Ardisia japonica is one of the 50 fundamental herbs in traditional Chinese medicine.
Hibbertia scandens, sometimes known by the common names snake vine, climbing guinea flower and golden guinea vine, is a species of flowering plant in the family Dilleniaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is climber or scrambler with lance-shaped or egg-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base, and yellow flowers with more than thirty stamens arranged around between three and seven glabrous carpels.
Alchornea glandulosa is a tree species of the Acalyphoideae native to South America, growing in southern Brazil from Minas Gerais to Rio Grande do Sul. It is locally known as tamanqueiro, tapiá or amor seco. This gnarled tree grows preferentially in riparian forest, where it a common pioneer species growing to a height of 10–20 m. It is essentially evergreen, though in the hot austral summer months there is a more pronounced changeover of leaves, and branches are denuded to some extent.
Mollinedia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Monimiaceae. There are 56 species distributed in the forests of the Neotropics, ranging from central Mexico to southern Brazil. They are mainly shrubs and trees.
Sauvagesia is a genus of plants in the family Ochnaceae. It includes 49 species native to the tropical Americas, tropical Africa, and Madagascar.
Tetracera is a genus of flowering plants of the Dilleniaceae family native to the tropics. Several species are lianas.
Hibbertia hypericoides, commonly known as yellow buttercups, is a species of flowering plant in the family Dilleniaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is usually a spreading shrub with linear to elliptic or egg-shaped leaves, and yellow flowers, usually with ten to fifteen stamens arranged in a cluster on one side of the two densely hairy carpels.
Klaus Kubitzki was a German botanist. He was Emeritus professor in the University of Hamburg, at the Herbarium Hamburgense. He is known for his work on the systematics and biogeography of the angiosperms, particularly those of the Neotropics, and also the floristic record of the Tertiary era. His plant systematic work is referred to as the Kubitzki system. He was a member of the American Society of Plant Taxonomists.
Ferdinandusa is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae, native to the American tropics.
Doliocarpus is a genus of flowering plants in the family Dilleniaceae, native to Central and South America.
Rourea is a genus of plants in the family Connaraceae. They are found worldwide across the tropics and subtropics.
Anchietea is a genus of flowering plants in the violet family Violaceae, with six accepted species, found in tropical South America.
Luxemburgia is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Ochnaceae.
Pombalia Vand. is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Violaceae.