''Aotus'' is an Australian
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...
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, within the
legume
A legume () is a plant in the family Fabaceae (or Leguminosae), or the fruit or seed of such a plant. When used as a dry grain, the seed is also called a pulse. Legumes are grown agriculturally, primarily for human consumption, for livestock f ...
family
Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...
. ''Aotus'' species, together with other species of the
tribe
The term tribe is used in many different contexts to refer to a category of human social group. The predominant worldwide usage of the term in English language, English is in the discipline of anthropology. This definition is contested, in p ...
Mirbelieae
The Mirbelioids are an informal subdivision of the plant family Fabaceae that includes the former tribes Bossiaeeae and Mirbelieae. They are consistently recovered as a monophyletic clade in molecular phylogenies. The Mirbelioids arose 48.4 ± 1 ...
, are often called golden peas because of their distinctive small yellow
flower
A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants (plants of the division Angiospermae). The biological function of a flower is to facilitate reproduction, usually by providing a mechani ...
s. They are endemic to
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
, occurring in all states except the
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory (commonly abbreviated as NT; formally the Northern Territory of Australia) is an states and territories of Australia, Australian territory in the central and central northern regions of Australia. The Northern Territory ...
. ''Aotus'' are evergreen species. Some are widely cultivated by
gardeners
A gardener is someone who practices gardening, either professionally or as a hobby.
Description
A gardener is any person involved in gardening, arguably the oldest occupation, from the hobbyist in a residential garden, the home-owner supplem ...
for their ornamental value.
Species
''Aotus'' comprises the following species:
* ''
Aotus carinata ''Aotus'' (the name is derived from the Ancient Greek words for "earless" in both cases: the monkey is missing external ear
An ear is the organ that enables hearing and, in mammals, body balance using the vestibular system. In mammals, the ...
''
Meissner
* ''
Aotus cordifolia ''Aotus'' (the name is derived from the Ancient Greek words for "earless" in both cases: the monkey is missing external ear
An ear is the organ that enables hearing and, in mammals, body balance using the vestibular system. In mammals, the ...
''
Benth.
* ''
Aotus ericoides
''Aotus ericoides'', also known as common aotus or golden pea, is a shrub in the family Fabaceae. It flowers in leaf axils in spring and has yellow pea flowers with splotches of red. It is endemic to eastern Australia.
Description
''Aotus eric ...
''
(Vent.) G.Don
* ''
Aotus genistoides ''Aotus'' (the name is derived from the Ancient Greek words for "earless" in both cases: the monkey is missing external ear
An ear is the organ that enables hearing and, in mammals, body balance using the vestibular system. In mammals, the ...
''
Turcz.
* ''
Aotus gracillima
''Aotus gracillima'' is a shrub in the family Fabaceae, native to Western Australia.
It is a slender upright shrub, growing to heights from 60 cm to 3 m, on peaty sand and sandy clays, in swamps and flats that are wet in the winter. The flower ...
''
Meissner
* ''
Aotus intermedia ''Aotus'' (the name is derived from the Ancient Greek words for "earless" in both cases: the monkey is missing external ear
An ear is the organ that enables hearing and, in mammals, body balance using the vestibular system. In mammals, the ...
''
Meissner
* ''
Aotus lanigera ''Aotus'' (the name is derived from the Ancient Greek words for "earless" in both cases: the monkey is missing external ear
An ear is the organ that enables hearing and, in mammals, body balance using the vestibular system. In mammals, the ...
''
Benth.
* ''
Aotus mollis''
Benth.
* ''
Aotus passerinoides''
Meissner
* ''
Aotus phylicoides''
Benth.
* ''
Aotus procumbens''
Meissner
* ''
Aotus subglauca''
Blakeley & McKie
* ''
Aotus subspinescens''
(Benth.) Crisp
* ''
Aotus tietkensii''
F.Muell.
Species names with uncertain taxonomic status
The status of the following species is unresolved:
* ''Aotus coccinea''
Dum.Cours.
* ''Aotus diffusa''
C.A. Gardner
* ''Aotus dillwynioides''
Meisn.
Carl Daniel Friedrich Meissner (1 November 1800 – 2 May 1874) was a Swiss botanist.
Biography
Born in Bern, Switzerland on 1 November 1800, he was christened Meisner but later changed the spelling of his name to Meissner. For most of his 40 ...
* ''Aotus drummondii''
T.Moore
* ''Aotus franklandii''
Chappill & C.F.Wilkins
* ''Aotus gracilis''
Loudon
* ''Aotus lanea''
Chappill & C.F.Wilkins
* ''Aotus preissii''
Meisn.
** var. ''leiophylla''
(Meisn.) Meisn.
** var. ''preissii''
Meisn.
* ''Aotus prosacris''
Chappill & C.F.Wilkins
* ''Aotus virgata''
Sieber ex DC.
* ''Aotus wuerthii''
Regel
References
External links
''Aotus''
Mirbelioids
Fabales of Australia
Fabaceae genera
{{Australia-rosid-stub