Schinus
Schinus is a genus of flowering trees and tall shrubs in the sumac family, Anacardiaceae. Members of the genus are commonly known as pepper trees. The Peruvian pepper tree (Schinus molle)[4] is the source of the spice known as pink peppercorns.[5] They can become an invasive species outside their natural habitats. Schinus polygama, although less well known, is also potentially weedy in mesic areas.
Schinus | |
---|---|
Schinus terebinthifolia | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Sapindales |
Family: | Anacardiaceae |
Subfamily: | Anacardioideae |
Genus: | Schinus L.[1][2] |
Type species | |
Schinus molle | |
Species | |
See text | |
Synonyms | |
Duvaua Kunth[1] |
Taxonomy
The generic name is derived from the Greek word for Pistacia lentiscus, Σχίνος (schinos), which it resembles.[6] There has been considerable historic confusion as to the correct gender of the genus name; as of 2015 this has been resolved with the determination that the correct gender of Schinus is feminine (rather than masculine), and adjectival names within the genus must be spelled accordingly.[7]
Over time there has been a fair amount of reclassification within this genus and earlier names may incorrectly continue to be used by those unaware of changes, including in some cases government departments and even textbooks. The name Schinus areira remains widespread, in Australia (the peppercorn tree) in particular, but this is now considered to be a variety of Schinus molle (var. areira).
Selected species
- Schinus engleri Barkley (Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay)
- Schinus latifolia (Gillies ex Lindl.) Engl.
- Schinus molle L. (=S. huygan) – Peruvian pepper tree (Western South America)
- Schinus molle var. areira (L.) DC. (=S. areira)
- Schinus molle var. molle
- Schinus pearcei Engler (Bolivia, Chile, and Peru)
- Schinus polygama (Cav.) Cabrera (=S. dentata, S. dependens) (southern South America)
- Schinus terebinthifolia Raddi – Brazilian pepper tree (southeastern Brazil, northern Argentina, and Paraguay)
- Schinus terebinthifolia var. acutifolia Engl.
- Schinus terebinthifolia var. pohliana Engl.
- Schinus terebinthifolia var. raddiana Engl.
- Schinus terebinthifolia var. rhoifolia (Mart.) Engl. (=S. aroiera, S. rhoifolia)
- Schinus terebinthifolia var. terebinthifolia
- Schinus venturi Barkley (Argentina and Bolivia)
- Schinus weinmanniifolia Mart. ex Engl.[8]
Formerly placed here
- Cuscuta myricoides (L.) Druce (as S. myricoides L.)
- Limonia acidissima L. (as S. limonia L.)
- Lithraea molleoides (Vell.) Engl. (as S. molleoides Vell.)
- Zanthoxylum fagara (L.) Sarg. (as S. fagara L.)[8]
References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Schinus. |
- "Genus: Schinus L." Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 2009-11-23. Retrieved 2011-02-22.
- Linnaeus, C. (1753), Species Plantarum 1: 388
- "Schinus L." TROPICOS. Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved 2010-02-09.
- Seidemann, Johannes (2005). World spice plants. Springer. p. 337. ISBN 978-3-540-22279-8.
- Allen, Gary (2007). The Herbalist in the Kitchen. University of Illinois Press. pp. 26–27. ISBN 978-0-252-03162-5.
- Quattrocchi, Umberto (2000). CRC World Dictionary of Plant Names: Common Names, Scientific Names, Eponyms, Synonyms, and Etymology. IV R-Z. Taylor & Francis US. p. 2405. ISBN 978-0-8493-2678-3.
- Zona, S. (2015). The correct gender of Schinus (Anacardiaceae). Phytotaxa, 222(1), 75–77. doi:https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.222.1.9
- "GRIN Species Records of Schinus". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2015-07-22.