''Amyris'' is a genus of

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...

s in the

citrus ''Citrus'' is a genus of flowering plant, flowering trees and shrubs in the rue family, Rutaceae. Plants in the genus produce citrus fruits, including important crops such as Orange (fruit), oranges, Lemon, lemons, grapefruits, pomelos, and lim ...

family,

Rutaceae The Rutaceae is a family, commonly known as the rueRUTACEAE
in BoDD – Botanical Derm ...

. The generic name is derived from the

Greek Greek may refer to: Greece Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group. *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family. **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor ...

word αμ ('), which means "intensely scented" and refers to the strong odor of the

resin In polymer chemistry and materials science, resin is a solid or highly viscous substance of plant or synthetic origin that is typically convertible into polymers. Resins are usually mixtures of organic compounds. This article focuses on natu ...

. Members of the genus are commonly known as torchwoods because of their highly flammable wood.

Species

Plants of the World Online Plants of the World Online (POWO) is an online database published by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. It was launched in March 2017 with the ultimate aim being "to enable users to access information on all the world's known seed-bearing plants by ...

accepted the following species: *'' Amyris abeggii'' Ekman ex Urb. *'' Amyris amazonica'' Cornejo & Kallunki *'' Amyris apiculata'' Urb. & Ekman *'' Amyris attenuata'' Standl. *'' Amyris balsamifera'' L. – balsam torchwood *'' Amyris barbata'' Lundell *'' Amyris brachybotrys'' Turcz. *'' Amyris brenesii'' Standl. *''

Amyris carterae ''Amyris'' is a genus of flowering plants in the citrus family, Rutaceae. The generic name is derived from the Greek word αμ ('), which means "intensely scented" and refers to the strong odor of the resin. Members of the genus are commonly kno ...

'' Rebman & F.Chiang *'' Amyris centinelensis'' Cornejo *'' Amyris chiapensis'' Lundell *'' Amyris conzattii'' Standl. *''

Amyris cordata ''Amyris'' is a genus of flowering plants in the citrus family, Rutaceae. The generic name is derived from the Greek word αμ ('), which means "intensely scented" and refers to the strong odor of the resin. Members of the genus are commonly kno ...

'' I.M.Johnst. *''

Amyris crebrinervis ''Amyris'' is a genus of flowering plants in the citrus family, Rutaceae. The generic name is derived from the Greek word αμ ('), which means "intensely scented" and refers to the strong odor of the resin. Members of the genus are commonly kno ...

'' Gereau *''

Amyris cubensis ''Amyris'' is a genus of flowering plants in the citrus family, Rutaceae. The generic name is derived from the Greek word αμ ('), which means "intensely scented" and refers to the strong odor of the resin. Members of the genus are commonly kno ...

'' (Borhidi & Acuña) Beurton *''

Amyris diatrypa ''Amyris'' is a genus of flowering plants in the citrus family, Rutaceae. The generic name is derived from the Greek word αμ ('), which means "intensely scented" and refers to the strong odor of the resin. Members of the genus are commonly kno ...

'' Spreng. – hairy torchwood *''

Amyris elemifera ''Amyris elemifera'' is a species of flowering plant in the citrus family, Rutaceae. Its common names include sea torchwood, smooth torchwood,Amyris filipes ''Amyris'' is a genus of flowering plants in the citrus family, Rutaceae. The generic name is derived from the Greek word αμ ('), which means "intensely scented" and refers to the strong odor of the resin. Members of the genus are commonly kno ...

'' Lundell *''

Amyris granulata ''Amyris'' is a genus of flowering plants in the citrus family, Rutaceae. The generic name is derived from the Greek word αμ ('), which means "intensely scented" and refers to the strong odor of the resin. Members of the genus are commonly kno ...

'' Urb. *''

Amyris guatemalensis ''Amyris'' is a genus of flowering plants in the citrus family, Rutaceae. The generic name is derived from the Greek word αμ ('), which means "intensely scented" and refers to the strong odor of the resin. Members of the genus are commonly kno ...

'' Lundell *''

Amyris guianensis ''Amyris'' is a genus of flowering plants in the citrus family, Rutaceae. The generic name is derived from the Greek word αμ ('), which means "intensely scented" and refers to the strong odor of the resin. Members of the genus are commonly kno ...

'' Aubl. *''

Amyris humboldtii ''Amyris'' is a genus of flowering plants in the citrus family, Rutaceae. The generic name is derived from the Greek word αμ ('), which means "intensely scented" and refers to the strong odor of the resin. Members of the genus are commonly kno ...

'' Krug & Urb. *''

Amyris ignea ''Amyris'' is a genus of flowering plants in the citrus family, Rutaceae. The generic name is derived from the Greek word αμ ('), which means "intensely scented" and refers to the strong odor of the resin. Members of the genus are commonly kno ...

'' Steyerm. *''

Amyris intermedia ''Amyris'' is a genus of flowering plants in the citrus family, Rutaceae. The generic name is derived from the Greek language, Greek word αμ ('), which means "intensely scented" and refers to the strong odor of the resin. Members of the genus ...

'' Urb. & Ekman *'' Amyris jorgemeavei'' Hern.-Barón, Espejo, Pérez-García, Cerros & López-Ferr. *'' Amyris karlitae'' W.Palacios *'' Amyris lineata'' C.Wright ex Griseb. *'' Amyris lurida'' Lundell *'' Amyris macrocarpa'' Gereau *'' Amyris madrensis'' S.Watson – mountain torchwood *'' Amyris magnifolia'' Gómez-Laur. & Q.Jiménez *'' Amyris marshii'' Standl. *'' Amyris metopioides'' Zanoni & M.M.Mejía *'' Amyris mexicana'' Lundell *'' Amyris monophylla'' Brandegee *'' Amyris multijuga'' Turcz. *'' Amyris oblanceolata'' A.Pool *'' Amyris pernambucensis'' Arruda *'' Amyris phlebotaenioides'' Urb. & Ekman *'' Amyris pinnata'' Kunth *'' Amyris plumieri'' DC. *''

Amyris polymorpha ''Amyris polymorpha'' is a species of flowering plant in the citrus family, Rutaceae, that is endemic to Cuba Cuba ( , ), officially the Republic of Cuba ( es, República de Cuba, links=no ), is an island country comprising the island of C ...

'' Urb. *'' Amyris polyneura'' Urb. *'' Amyris pungens'' Urb. *'' Amyris purpusii'' P.Wilson *'' Amyris rekoi'' S.F.Blake *'' Amyris rhomboidea'' Standl. *'' Amyris robinsonii'' DC. *'' Amyris roseomaculata'' Hern.-Barón, Cerros, M.González, Espejo & López-Ferr. *'' Amyris sandemanii'' Sandwith *'' Amyris staminosa'' Lundell *'' Amyris stromatophylla'' P.Wilson *'' Amyris terebinthifolia'' Ten. *'' Amyris texana'' (Buckley) P.Wilson – Texas torchwood, chapotillo *'' Amyris thyrsiflora'' Turcz. *'' Amyris trimera'' Krug & Urb. *'' Amyris vestita'' Lundell

Formerly placed here

* ''

Atalantia simplicifolia ''Atalantia simplicifolia'' is a species of plants in the family Rutaceae. It can be considered as shrub or small tree with average height up to 5 m. Description Shrubs or small trees, up to 5 m high; branchlets slender, cylindric, glab ...

'' (Roxb.) Engl. (as ''A. simplicifolia'' Roxb.) * ''

Boswellia papyrifera ''Boswellia papyrifera'', also known as the Sudanese frankincense, is a species of flowering plant and frankincense that is native to Ethiopia, Eritrea and Sudan. The tree is cultivated in Ethiopia because of its valuable resin. The incense is c ...

'' (Delile ex Caill.) Hochst. (as ''A. papyrifera'' Delile ex Caill.) * '' Bursera excelsa'' (as ''A. elegans'') * ''

Canarium zeylanicum ''Canarium zeylanicum'' is a species of flowering plant in the frankincense family, Burseraceae, that is Endemism, endemic to Sri Lanka. ''Canarium zeylanicum'' is a large branched tree that can grow up to 25–30m in height. The seeds of this pl ...

'' (Retz.) Blume (as ''A. zeylanica'' Retz.) * ''

Clausena anisata :''Should not be confused with syzygium anisatum, a tree native to eastern Australian rainforests, used as a culinary herb.'' ''Clausena anisata'' (Willd.) Hook.f. ex Benth. is a deciduous shrub or small tree, belonging to the Rutaceae or Citrus ...

'' (Willd.) Hook.f. (as ''A. anisata'' Willd. or ''A. dentata'' Willd.) * '' Clausena heptaphylla'' (Roxb. ex DC.) Wight & Arn. ex Steud. (as ''A. heptaphylla'' Roxb. ex DC.) * ''

Commiphora gileadensis ''Commiphora gileadensis'', the Arabian balsam tree, is a shrub species in the genus ''Commiphora'' growing in Saudi Arabia, Yemen, southern Oman, Sudan and in southeast Egypt where it may have been introduced. Other common names for the plant i ...

'' (L.) C.Chr. (as ''A. gileadensis'' L. or ''A. opobalsamum'' L.) * ''

Commiphora kataf ''Commiphora kataf'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Burseraceae, native to northeastern and eastern tropical Africa, and the southwestern Arabian Peninsula. A relative of myrrh Myrrh (; from Semitic, but see '' § Etymol ...

'' (Forssk.) Engl. (as ''A. kataf'' Forssk.) * ''

Metopium toxiferum ''Metopium toxiferum'', the poisonwood, Florida poisontree, or hog gum, is a species of flowering tree in the cashew or sumac family, Anacardiaceae, that is native to the American Neotropics. It produces the irritant urushiol much like its close ...

'' (L.) Krug & Urb. (as ''A. toxifera'' L.) * ''

Schinus polygama ''Schinus polygama'', the Hardee peppertree or Chilean pepper tree, is a species of plant in the family Anacardiaceae native to Argentina and Chile and naturalized in California. Taxonomy The species name has been spelled ''Schinus polygamus'', ...

'' (Cav.) Cabrera (as ''A. polygama'' Cav.)

Uses

The trunks of ''Amyris'' species exude

elemi ''Canarium luzonicum'', commonly known as elemi, is a tree native to the Philippines. The oleoresin harvested from it is also known as elemi. Synonyms * ''Canarium carapifolium'' G.Perkins * ''Canarium oliganthum'' Merr. * ''Canarium polyanthu ...

, a type of balsam (

oleoresin Oleoresins are semi-solid extracts composed of resin and essential or fatty oil, obtained by evaporation of the solvents used for their production. The oleoresin of conifers is known as crude turpentine or gum turpentine, which consists of oil of ...

) that contains elemic acids, liquid

sesquiterpene Sesquiterpenes are a class of terpenes that consist of three isoprene units and often have the molecular formula C15H24. Like monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes may be cyclic or contain rings, including many unique combinations. Biochemical modificatio ...

s, and

triterpene Triterpenes are a class of chemical compounds composed of three terpene units with the molecular formula C30H48; they may also be thought of as consisting of six isoprene units. Animals, plants and fungi all produce triterpenes, including squale ...

s such as α- and

β-amyrin The amyrins are three closely related natural chemical compounds of the triterpene class. They are designated α-amyrin (ursane skeleton), β-amyrin (oleanane skeleton) and δ-amyrin. Each is a pentacyclic triterpenol with the chemical formula C ...

among other components. It is used medicinally and in

lacquer Lacquer is a type of hard and usually shiny coating or finish applied to materials such as wood or metal. It is most often made from resin extracted from trees and waxes and has been in use since antiquity. Asian lacquerware, which may be ca ...

s. The wood is often used for

torch A torch is a stick with combustible material at one end, which is ignited and used as a light source. Torches have been used throughout history, and are still used in processions, symbolic and religious events, and in juggling entertainment. In ...

es and

firewood Firewood is any wooden material that is gathered and used for fuel. Generally, firewood is not highly processed and is in some sort of recognizable log or branch form, compared to other forms of wood fuel like pellets or chips. Firewood can ...

. Its high

content causes it to burn brightly, and it will burn well even when green. In addition, the wood is hard, heavy, close-

grained Graining is the practice of imitating wood grain on a non-wood surface, or on relatively undesirable wood surface, in order to give it the appearance of a rare or higher quality wood, thereby increase that surface's aesthetic appeal. Graining was ...

, can take a high polish, and repels dry wood

termite Termites are small insects that live in colonies and have distinct castes (eusocial) and feed on wood or other dead plant matter. Termites comprise the infraorder Isoptera, or alternatively the epifamily Termitoidae, within the order Blattode ...

Essential oil An essential oil is a concentrated hydrophobic liquid containing volatile (easily evaporated at normal temperatures) chemical compounds from plants. Essential oils are also known as volatile oils, ethereal oils, aetheroleum, or simply as the o ...

s containing

caryophyllene Caryophyllene (), more formally (−)-β-caryophyllene, (BCP), is a natural bicyclic sesquiterpene that is a constituent of many essential oils, especially clove oil, the oil from the stems and flowers of '' Syzygium aromaticum'' (cloves), the ess ...

cadinene Cadinenes are a group of isomeric hydrocarbons that occur in a wide variety of essential oil-producing plants. The name is derived from that of the Cade juniper (''Juniperus oxycedrus'' L.), the wood of which yields an oil from which cadinene is ...

, and cadinol are extracted from '' A. balsamifera'' and '' A. elemifera''. These are used in

varnish Varnish is a clear transparent hard protective coating or film. It is not a stain. It usually has a yellowish shade from the manufacturing process and materials used, but it may also be pigmented as desired, and is sold commercially in various ...

es,

perfume Perfume (, ; french: parfum) is a mixture of fragrant essential oils or aroma compounds (fragrances), fixatives and solvents, usually in liquid form, used to give the human body, animals, food, objects, and living-spaces an agreeable scent. Th ...

s, medicines,

cosmetics Cosmetics are constituted mixtures of chemical compounds derived from either natural sources, or synthetically created ones. Cosmetics have various purposes. Those designed for personal care and skin care can be used to cleanse or protect ...

soap Soap is a salt of a fatty acid used in a variety of cleansing and lubricating products. In a domestic setting, soaps are surfactants usually used for washing, bathing, and other types of housekeeping. In industrial settings, soaps are use ...

s, and

incense Incense is aromatic biotic material that releases fragrant smoke when burnt. The term is used for either the material or the aroma. Incense is used for aesthetic reasons, religious worship, aromatherapy, meditation, and ceremony. It may also be ...

. Chemical compounds known as chromenylated amides isolated from ''Amyris plumieri'' have shown some inhibition of the

cytochrome P450 Cytochromes P450 (CYPs) are a Protein superfamily, superfamily of enzymes containing heme as a cofactor (biochemistry), cofactor that functions as monooxygenases. In mammals, these proteins oxidize steroids, fatty acids, and xenobiotics, and are ...

enzymes.

References

Rutaceae genera Taxonomy articles created by Polbot {{Rutaceae-stub