| Polyalthia | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Polyalthia suberosa | |
 | |
| P. suberosa flower | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Magnoliids |
| Order: | Magnoliales |
| Family: | Annonaceae |
| Tribe: | Miliuseae |
| Genus: | Polyalthia Blume |
| Type species | |
| Polyalthia subcordata (Blume) Blume | |
| Synonyms | |
Polyalthia is a genus of flowering plants in the familyAnnonaceae. There are approximately 90 species distributed from Africa to Asia and the Pacific.[1]
These are trees and shrubs. The flower has six petals in two whorls, the inner petals curving inward over the centre.[1]
The namePolyalthia is derived from a combination of Greek words meaning 'many cures' with reference to the medicinal properties of certain species.[2]
This large genus was known to bepolyphyletic, with many species having been separated and reassigned to other genera.[3][4] Species have also been transferred into this genus (e.g.P. malabarica fromPhaeanthus).
As of January 2025[update],Plants of the World Online accepts the following 98 species:[5]
According toPlants of the World Online, species have been placed in the following genera: