| Clusia | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Clusia fluminensis | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Malpighiales |
| Family: | Clusiaceae |
| Tribe: | Clusieae |
| Genus: | Clusia L. |
| Species[1] | |
321, seetext | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Clusia is thetype genus of theflowering plant familyClusiaceae. Comprising 300-400 species, it is native to theNeotropics. The genus is named byCarl Linnaeus in honor of the botanistCarolus Clusius.
The closest relatives ofClusia are the neotropical generaChrysochlamys,Tovomita,Dystovomita andTovomitopsis. Together withClusia, these genera form the tribeClusieae, where the fruit is a fleshycapsule witharillate seeds.
The distribution ranges from theFlorida Keys and southern Mexico to southernmost Brazil, and from near sea level to at least 3500 m altitude in the northern Andes. TheapomicticClusia rosea is an invasive species in Hawaii and Sri Lanka, and possibly elsewhere.
Species ofClusia are a characteristic component of a number of Neotropical vegetation types, and may even be dominant, as is often seen in montane forests of theGreater Antilles. Most species are found in lowland or montane rainforests, but some occur in drier habitats such as therestingas of Brazil,Caribbean coastal scrub and dry inter-Andean valleys. A number of species are confined to rocky habitats, such astepuis or graniticinselbergs. A few grow as scattered shrubs inpáramo.
Its species areshrubs,vines and small to medium-sizetrees up to 20 m tall, withevergreen foliage. Some species start life asepiphytes which grow long roots that descend to the ground and eventually strangle and kill the host tree in a manner similar tostrangler figs.
ManyClusia species haveCrassulacean acid metabolism, which can be considered an adaptation to the often dry (micro)habitats of the genus.[2]
The plants contain variously colouredlatex in stems, leaves and fruit. Theleaves are simple, entire and opposite, 5–70 cm long and 2–20 cm broad. Leaf texture is usually leathery, less commonly rigid or slightly succulent. Flower size varies from ca 5 mm wide (e.g.Clusia gundlachii) to ca 150 mm inClusia grandiflora. The 4-9petals are white, cream, yellow, pink, red, blackish or green. Flowers are unisexual and plants aredioecious (pistillate and staminate flowers are borne on separate plants).Stamen number ranges from four to several hundred. Shape and size of stamens are extremely variable. Sterile stamens are often present, both in pistillate and staminate flowers.Stigmas are four to 16 in number and usuallysessile. Thefruit is a leathery valvate capsule which splits open to release several red or orange, fleshy-coatedseeds.
Pollination involves a range of different animals, and several types of rewards. Floralresin occurs in many, probably most species ofClusia. The resin is produced by the stamens (by sterile stamens, referred to asstaminodes, in pistillate flowers) and is collected by bees that use it in nest construction. Nectar is most common in montane species, e.g.Clusia clusioides, and these flowers are visited by insects such as moths and wasps, and sometimes by bats or hummingbirds. In flowers lacking nectar or resin, pollination may be carried out by pollen-eating beetles, which visit also the rewardless pistillate flowers, as observed inClusia criuva.Clusia blattophila is pollinated by male cockroaches attracted by a pheromone-containing fluid produced by the flowers.[3]
Seeds are dispersed by birds and perhaps, in some cases, by small mammals.
Clusia plants provide excellent nesting sites for some insects. For instance,Clusia grandiflora, a common species in Guianese forests, is an attractive place forPolistes pacificus wasps to build their paper nests because arboreal ants, which often prey on these wasps, do not normally reside in this species of tree.[4]
The wood ofClusia is highly durable, and is sometimes used for roof construction. The latex and the floral resin have antiseptic properties and have been used to seal wounds. Dry latex is sometimes burned likeincense in churches. A few species are grown as house plants, or, in tropical areas, as ornamental trees and shrubs. Examples areClusia rosea,C. major andC. orthoneura.
321 species are currently accepted.[1] Selected species include:
-_leaf_with_autograph%2c_flower%2c_fresh_fruit%2c_and_dried_fruit.jpg)
Correia MCR, Ormond WT, Pinheiro MCB, Lima HA (1993) Estudos da biologia floral de Clusia criuva Camb. um caso de mimetismo. Bradea 24:209–219
Gustafsson, M. H. G. and V. Bittrich (2003) Evolution of morphological diversity and resin secretion in flowers of Clusia L. (Clusiaceae): insights from ITS sequence variation. Nordic Journal of Botany 22: 183-203.
Gustafsson, M. H. G. (2012) A new xeromorphic species of Clusia (Clusiaceae) from dry valleys of northern Peru. Novon 20: 414-417
Gustafsson, M. H. G., V. Bittrich and K. Winter (2007) Diversity, phylogeny and classification of Clusia. In U. Lüttge (ed.) Ecological studies vol. 194. Clusia: a woody Neotropical genus of remarkable plasticity and diversity, pp. 95–116. Springer, Heidelberg.
Bittrich, V and M. C. E. Amaral (1996)Flower Morphology and Pollination Biology of Some Clusia Species from the Gran Sabana (Venezuela)Kew Bulletin 51: 681-694.
Media related toClusia at Wikimedia Commons