Gustavia | |
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Gustavia superba[1] | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Ericales |
Family: | Lecythidaceae |
Subfamily: | Lecythidoideae |
Genus: | Gustavia L. |
Synonyms[2] | |
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Gustavia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Lecythidaceae described by Linnaeus in 1775.[3][4] It is native to tropical Central America and South America.[2] Many of the species are threatened; some are critically endangered[5] Gustavia superba, though, is actually abundant in re-growing secondary forests. It grows in northern South America, from Panama south through the Andes as far as Ecuador, and along the Caribbean coast and in the Amazon basin.[5] Gustavia flowers have numerous stamens, in some species as many as 1,200 in a single flower.[6]
The genus name was given by Linnaeus to honor his king, Gustav III of Sweden.