From Wikipedia - Reading time: 6 min
| Critonia | |
|---|---|
| Critonia morifolia | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Subfamily: | Asteroideae |
| Tribe: | Eupatorieae |
| Genus: | Critonia P.Browne |
| Type species | |
| Critonia dalea | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Critonia is a genus of flowering plants in the tribe Eupatorieae of the family Asteraceae.[2][4][5]
The most notable trait that characterizes the genus is the presence of pellucid punctations caused by internal secretory pockets of the leaves - to be seen these must be viewed with a hand lens while holding the leaf up to light in most species of the genus. Most species of Critonia also have smooth opposite leaves, a shrubby habit, unenlarged style bases, relatively few (3-5) flowers per head, and imbricate involucres.[6]
The genus is native to Mexico, Central America, South America, and the West Indies.[1]