Pentas

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Eudicots
Cladus: Core eudicots
Cladus: Asterids
Cladus: Lamiids
Ordo: Gentianales

Familia: Rubiaceae
Subfamilia: Rubioideae
Tribus: Knoxieae
Genus: Pentas
Sectio: P. sect. Hirtistylus – P. sect. Monomorphi – P. sect. Papillopilosa – P. sect. Pentas

Species: P. angustifolia – P. arvensis – P. caffensis – P. cleistostoma – P. glabrescens – P. herbacea – P. lanceolata – P. micrantha – P. nervosa – P. pauciflora – P. pubiflora – P. purpurea – P. purseglovei – P. suswaensis – P. tibestica – P. zanzibarica

Name

Pentas Benth., Bot. Mag. 70: t. 4086. (1844)

Type species: P. carnea Benth. = P. lanceolata
(Forssk.) Deflers, Voy. Yemen: 142. (1889)

Synonyms

Replaced synonym
Neurocarpaea R.Br. ex Hiern, Cat. Afr. Pl. 1: 438. (1898), nom. superfl.
Heterotypic
Orthostemma Wall. ex Voigt, Hort. Suburb. Calcutt.: 384. (1845)
Vignaldia A.Rich., Tent. Fl. Abyss. 1: 357. (1848)

References

Bentham, G. 1844. Botanical Magazine; or, Flower-Garden Displayed 70: t. 4086.
Govaerts, R. et al. 2020. Pentas in World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2020 Feb. 23. Reference page.
International Plant Names Index. 2020. Pentas. Published online. Accessed: Feb. 23 2020.
Kårehed, J. & Bremer, B. 2007. The systematics of Knoxieae (Rubiaceae) — molecular data and their taxonomic consequences. Taxon 56(4): 1051–1076. DOI: 10.2307/25065904 JSTOR PDF. Reference page.
Tropicos.org 2020. Pentas. Missouri Botanical Garden. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2020 Feb. 23.

Pentas is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. The genus is found in tropical and southern Africa, the Comoros, Madagascar, and the Arabian Peninsula.[1]

The plants have hairy green leaves and clusters of flowers in shades of red, white, pink, and purple. Pentas are attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds. Some species are commonly cultivated and can be grown in pots and baskets. Species such as Pentas lanceolata can withstand full sunlight and need little to no care, growing even in locations that are dry and hot.[2]

Species

Pentas angustifolia (A.Rich.) Verdc.
Pentas arvensis Hiern
Pentas caffensis Chiov.
Pentas cleistostoma K.Schum.
Pentas glabrescens Baker
Pentas herbacea (Hiern) K.Schum.
Pentas lanceolata (Forssk.) Deflers - Egyptian starcluster
Pentas micrantha Baker
Pentas nervosa Hepper
Pentas pauciflora Baker
Pentas pubiflora S.Moore
Pentas purpurea Oliv.
Pentas purseglovei Verdc.
Pentas suswaensis Verdc.
Pentas tibestica Quézel
Pentas zanzibarica (Klotzsch) Vatke

References

"Pentas in the World Checklist of Rubiaceae". Retrieved 26 April 2017.
Floridata: Pentas lanceolata. Floridata.