Schinus | |
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Schinus terebinthifolia | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Sapindales |
Family: | Anacardiaceae |
Subfamily: | Anacardioideae |
Genus: | Schinus L. (1753) [1] [2] |
Type species | |
Schinus molle | |
Species | |
See text | |
Synonyms [4] | |
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Schinus is a genus of flowering trees and tall shrubs in the sumac family, Anacardiaceae. Members of the genus are commonly known as pepper trees. The Peruvian pepper tree ( Schinus molle ) [5] is the source of the spice known as pink peppercorn. [6]
The species of Schinus are native to South America, ranging from Peru and northeastern Brazil to southern South America. [4] Some species (e.g. Schinus terebinthifolia ) have become an invasive species outside their natural habitats. Schinus polygama , although less well known, is also potentially weedy in mesic areas.
The generic name is derived from the Greek word for Pistacia lentiscus , Σχίνος (schinos), which it resembles. [7] Considerable historic confusion has existed as to the correct gender of the genus name; as of 2015, this has been resolved with the determination that the correct gender of Schinus is feminine (rather than masculine), and adjectival names within the genus must be spelled accordingly. [8]
34 species are currently accepted: [4]
Nothoscordum is a genus of New World plants in the onion tribe within the Amaryllis family. It is probably paraphyletic. The genus is native to North, Central and South America, though a few species have become naturalized in various parts of the Old World.
Chusquea is a genus of evergreen bamboos in the grass family. Most of them are native to mountain habitats in Latin America, from Mexico to southern Chile and Argentina.
Psidium is a genus of trees and shrubs in the family Myrtaceae. It is native to warmer parts of the Western Hemisphere. Many of the species bear edible fruits, and for this reason several are cultivated commercially. The most popularly cultivated species is the common guava, Psidium guajava.
Portulaca is a genus of flowering plants in the family Portulacaceae, and is the type genus of the family. With over 100 species, it is found in the tropics and warm temperate regions. Portulacas are also known as the purslanes.
Grindelia (gumweed) is a genus of plants native to the Americas belonging to the family Asteraceae. The genus was named for Latvian botanist David Hieronymus Grindel, 1776–1836.
Schinus terebinthifolia is a species of flowering plant in the cashew family, Anacardiaceae, that is native to subtropical and tropical South America. Common names include Brazilian peppertree, aroeira, rose pepper, broadleaved pepper tree, wilelaiki, Christmasberry tree and Florida holly. The species name has been very commonly misspelled as ‘terebinthifolius’.
Weinmannia is a genus of trees and shrubs in the family Cunoniaceae. It contains 90 species, which range from Mexico through Central and South America including the Caribbean, and to the Mascarene Islands in the western Indian Ocean. It is absent from mainland Africa and Australia, but some fossils have been attributed to Weinmannia in Australia.
A pink peppercorn is a dried berry referring to three different species; the traditional Baies rose plant Euonymus phellomanus, the shrub Schinus molle, commonly known as the Peruvian peppertree, and the Schinus terebinthifolia.
Soliva is a genus of South American plants in the sunflower family. Burrweed is a common name for some species in this genus.
Schinus molle is an evergreen tree that grows to 15 meters. It is native to an area from the Peruvian Andes to southern Brazil. The bright pink fruits of Schinus molle are often sold as "pink peppercorns" although S. molle is unrelated to black pepper. The word molle in Schinus molle comes from mulli, the Quechua word for the tree. The tree is host to the pepper-tree moth, Bombycomorpha bifascia.
Oxypetalum is a genus of flowering plants in the family Apocynaceae, first described with this name in 1810. The genus is native to South America.
Nothura is a genus of birds in the tinamou family. This genus comprises five members of this South American family.
Araujia is a small genus of perennial vines in the dogbane family first described as a genus in 1817. The group is native to South America.
Facelis (trampweed) is a genus of South American flowering plants in the family Asteraceae.
Tessaria is a genus of South American plants in the tribe Inuleae within the family Asteraceae.
Trichocline is a genus of Australian and South American plants in the tribe Mutisieae within the family Asteraceae. It consists of one species from Australia (T. spathulata) and twenty-three from South America.
Compsocerus violaceus is a species of beetle in the family Cerambycidae. It occurs in South America, being common in southern Brazil, northern Argentina and Uruguay.
Schinus weinmanniifolia, the Uruguyan pepper tree, is a native tree of Uruguay, northwest Argentina, Paraguay, and southern Brazil. It grows to 3 to 9 metres in height with a crown width of 3 to 5 metres.