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Edgeworthia (paper bush) is a genus of plants in the family Thymelaeaceae. When the genus was first described, it was published twice in the same year (1841), in two separate publications: Plantarum vascularium genera: secundum ordines naturales digesta eorumque differentiae et affinitates tabulis diagnostacis expositae;[1] and Denkschriften der Regensburgischen Botanischen Gesellschaft.[2] The genus was named in honour of Michael Pakenham Edgeworth, an Irish botanist and official in the Bengal Civil Service, then stationed in India, and for his half-sister, writer Maria Edgeworth.[2]
At least one member of the genus, Edgeworthia chrysantha, has the extremely unusual ability to branch trichotomously - the apical meristem forming the end of each stem splits into three sections at once, leading to its Japanese name mitsumata (三椏, three-fork).[3] This trait is shared with no other known flowering plant.[4]
Species list from both GRIN[5] and ThePlantList[6]
| Image | Scientific name | Distribution |
|---|---|---|
| Edgeworthia albiflora Nakai | Sichuan, China | |
| 120px | Edgeworthia chrysantha Lindl. | Myanmar, south and southwestern China[7] |
| Edgeworthia eriosolenoides K.M.Feng & S.C.Huang | SE Yunnan, China | |
| 120px | Edgeworthia gardneri (Wall.) Meisn. | Bhutan, India, N Myanmar, Nepal, China(E Xizang, NW Yunnan), Vietnam |
| Edgeworthia longipes Lace | Myanmar, India |
<ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named trop1
Wikidata ☰ Q3277507 entry