Pennantia | |
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Pennantia corymbosa | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Apiales |
Family: |
Pennantiaceae J.Agardh [1] |
Genus: |
Pennantia J.R.Forst. & G.Forst. |
Type species | |
Pennantia corymbosa J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.
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Pennantia is the sole genus in the plant family Pennantiaceae. In older classifications, it was placed in the family Icacinaceae. [2] Most authorities have recognised three or four species, depending on whether they recognised Pennantia baylisiana as a separate species from Pennantia endlicheri. [3] British-born botanist David Mabberley has recognised two species. [4]
The species are small to medium, sometimes multi-trunked trees. Leaves are alternate, leathery, and with entire or sometimes toothed margins. Inflorescences are terminal and flowers are functionally unisexual; the species are more or less dioecious. [3]
Pennantia species grow naturally in New Zealand, Norfolk Island, and eastern Australia. In Australia, P. cunninghamii grows across a broad latitudinal natural range (nearly 3,000 km (1,900 mi)), from the south coast of New South Wales northwards through to north eastern Queensland.[ citation needed]
The genus name, Pennantia, is in honor of Thomas Pennant, an 18th century Welsh zoologist and author.[ citation needed]
The following four species were recognised by New Zealand botanists Rhys O. Gardner and Peter J. de Lange in 2002. [3]