Peltophorum | |
---|---|
Peltophorum pterocarpum | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Fabales |
Family: | Fabaceae |
Subfamily: | Caesalpinioideae |
Genus: |
Peltophorum ( Vogel) Benth. |
Type species | |
Peltophorum vogelianum | |
Synonyms [1] | |
Baryxylum Lour. |
Peltophorum is a genus of 5–15 species of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae, subfamily Caesalpinioideae. [2] The genus is native to certain tropical regions across the world, including northern South America, central and southern Africa, Indochina, southeastern China, Malesia, New Guinea, and northern Australia. [1] The species are medium-sized to large trees growing up to 15–25 m tall, rarely 50 m. [3] [4]
Peltophorum literally means "shield-bearing": from Greek pelt(ē) ( πέλτη, " peltē shield"), with the interfix -o-, -phor(os) ("bearing") and Neo-Latin suffix -um.
It is a reference to the peltate (shield-like) form of the plant's stigma. [5]
As of September 2023 [update], the following species were accepted by Plants of the World Online: [1]
The generic name Peltophorum means "shield-bearing" (from the ancient Greek word πέλτη [pĕltē] "a small light shield") and refers to the peltate stigma.