| Pennantia | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 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. | |
Pennantia is the solegenus in the plantfamilyPennantiaceae. In olderclassifications, it was placed in the familyIcacinaceae.[2] Most authorities have recognised three or fourspecies, depending on whether they recognisedPennantia baylisiana as a separate species fromPennantia endlicheri.[3] BotanistDavid 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 lessdioecious.[3]
Pennantia species grow naturally inNew Zealand,Norfolk Island, and easternAustralia. In Australia,P. cunninghamii grows across a broad latitudinal natural range (nearly 3,000 km (1,900 mi)), from the south coast ofNew South Wales northwards through to north easternQueensland.[citation needed]
The genus name,Pennantia, is in honor ofThomas Pennant, an 18th century Welsh zoologist and author.[citation needed]
The following four species were recognised by New Zealand botanistsRhys O. Gardner andPeter J. de Lange in 2002.[3]
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