Biology:Haplophyton

From HandWiki
Short description: Genus of plants

Haplophyton
Scientific classification e
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Gentianales
Family: Apocynaceae
Subfamily: Rauvolfioideae
Tribe: Aspidospermateae
Genus: Haplophyton
A.DC

Haplophyton is a genus of plants in the family Apocynaceae, first described in 1844. It is native to the southwestern United States , Mexico, Cuba, and Guatemala.[1][2] It is a suffrutescent herb with alternative leaves and showy colorful flowers.[3]

The common name cockroach plant (or hierba de la cucaracha) is in reference to its insecticidal properties. It has been used to kill cockroaches, fleas, flies, lice, and mosquitoes.[4] Leaf extracts and sap contain many insecticidal compounds — such as the indole alkaloid aspidophytine.

Species

Some authors accept three species in the genus, others recognize two, considering H. cinereum synonymous with H. cimicidum. The World Checklist recognizes:

  • Haplophyton cimicidum A.DC. (syn H. cinereum (A.Rich.) Woodson) - Michoacán, Puebla, Morelos, Oaxaca, Chiapas, Guatemala; naturalized in Cuba
  • Haplophyton crooksii (L.D.Benson) L.D.Benson - S Arizona, SW New Mexico, W Texas, Sonora, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Cuba

References

  1. "Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families". Apps.kew.org. http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/namedetail.do?name_id=96248. 
  2. "Biota of North America Program 2013 county distribution map, Haplophyton crooksii". http://bonap.net/MapGallery/County/Haplophyton%20crooksii.png. 
  3. Williams, J. K. 1995. Miscellaneous notes on Haplophyton (Apocynaceae: Plumerieae: Haplophytinae). Sida 16(3): 469–475
  4. McLaughlin, S.P. 1993. Apocynaceae A.L. Juss., Dogbane Family. Journal of the Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science 27:164-168.

External links

Wikidata ☰ Q10293855 entry