| Jacaranda | |
|---|---|
 | |
| A flower ofJacaranda mimosifolia | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Bignoniaceae |
| Tribe: | Jacarandeae |
| Genus: | Jacaranda Juss. |
| Type species | |
| Jacaranda mimosifolia | |
| Synonyms | |
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Jacaranda is agenus of 49 species offlowering plants in the familyBignoniaceae, native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas[1] while cultivated around the world. The generic name is also used as the common name.
The speciesJacaranda mimosifolia[2] has achieved acosmopolitan distribution due to introductions, to the extent that it has enteredpopular culture. It can be found growing as an environmental weed in Central America, the Caribbean, Spain, Portugal, southern and northern Africa, China, Australia, Rwanda and Cyprus.
The name is ofSouth American (more specificallyTupi–Guarani) origin either meaning fragrant,[3]y-acã-ratã meaning "heartwood"[4] orya'kãg rã'ta "hard-headed".[5] The wordjacaranda was described inA supplement to Mr. Chambers's Cyclopædia, 1st ed., (1753) as "a name given by some authors to the tree the wood of which is thelog-wood, used in dyeing and medicine" and as being of Tupi–Guarani origin,[6][7] by way of Portuguese.[8] Although not consistent with the Guarani source, one common pronunciation of the name in English is given by/ˌdʒækəˈrændə/.[9]
The species areshrubs to largetrees ranging in size from 20 to 30 m (66 to 98 ft) tall. Theleaves arebipinnate in most species, pinnate or simple in a few species. Theflowers are produced in conspicuous largepanicles, each flower with a five-lobed blue to purple-bluecorolla; a few species have white flowers. Thefruit is an oblong to oval flattenedcapsule containing numerous slenderseeds. The genus differs from other genera in the Bignoniaceae in having astaminode that is longer than thestamens, tricolpatepollen, and achromosome number of 18.
The genus is divided into two sections, sect.Monolobos and sect.Dilobos DC., based on the number ofthecae on theanthers. Sect.Monolobos has 18 species and is found primarily in westernSouth America,Central America,Mexico, and theCaribbean. Sect.Dilobos, which is believed to be the primitive form, has 31 species and is found primarily in southeasternBrazil including theParaná River valley. The anatomy of thewood in the two sections also differs. Although usually treated in sect.Monolobos,J. copaia differs somewhat from all other members of the genus and may be intermediate between the two sections (Dos Santos & Miller 1997).
Sect.Monolobos
Sect.Dilobos
Jacaranda can be propagated from grafting, cuttings, and seeds, though plants grown from seeds take a long time to bloom. Jacaranda grows in well-drained soil and tolerates drought and brief spells of frost and freeze.[11][12]
This genus thrives in full sun and sandy soils, which explains their abundance in warmer climates. Mature plants can survive in colder climates down to −7 °C (19 °F); however, they may not bloom as profusely. Younger plants are more fragile and may not survive in colder climates when temperatures drop below freezing.
Several species are widely grown asornamental plants throughout the subtropical regions of the world, valued for their intense flower displays. The most often seen is theblue jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia;syn.J. acutifolia hort. non Bonpl.). Other members of the genus are also commercially important; for example theCopaia (Jacaranda copaia) is important for itstimber because of its exceptionally longbole.
Media related toJacaranda at Wikimedia Commons
Data related toJacaranda at Wikispecies