Canthium coromandelicum near Hyderabad W IMG 7609

''Canthium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. They are

shrub A shrub (often also called a bush) is a small-to-medium-sized perennial woody plant. Unlike herbaceous plants, shrubs have persistent woody stems above the ground. Shrubs can be either deciduous or evergreen. They are distinguished from trees ...

s and small trees. The leaves are deciduous and the stems are usually thorny.

Distribution

''Canthium'' species are predominantly found in Southeast Asia, especially in Thailand and the Philippines. A small number of species is found in India,

Sri Lanka Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්‍රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ilaṅkai, translit-std=ISO ()), formerly known as Ceylon and officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an ...

, and Bangladesh. Only a limited number of species is found on the African continent, especially in

Southern Southern may refer to: Businesses * China Southern Airlines, airline based in Guangzhou, China * Southern Airways, defunct US airline * Southern Air, air cargo transportation company based in Norwalk, Connecticut, US * Southern Airways Express, M ...

and

East Africa East Africa, Eastern Africa, or East of Africa, is the eastern subregion of the African continent. In the United Nations Statistics Division scheme of geographic regions, 10-11-(16*) territories make up Eastern Africa: Due to the historical ...

Taxonomy

''Canthium'' was named by Jean-Baptiste Lamarck in 1785 in Encyclopédie Méthodique. The

name A name is a term used for identification by an external observer. They can identify a class or category of things, or a single thing, either uniquely, or within a given context. The entity identified by a name is called its referent. A personal ...

is a latinisation of "kantankara", a Malayalam

from Kerala for ''Canthium coromandelicum''. ''Kantan'' means "shining" and ''kara'' means "a spiny shrub". The

biological type In biology, a type is a particular specimen (or in some cases a group of specimens) of an organism to which the scientific name of that organism is formally attached. In other words, a type is an example that serves to anchor or centralizes the ...

for the genus consists of

specimen Specimen may refer to: Science and technology * Sample (material), a limited quantity of something which is intended to be similar to and represent a larger amount * Biological specimen or biospecimen, an organic specimen held by a biorepository ...

s originally described by Jean-Baptiste Lamarck as ''Canthium parviflorum''''Canthium'' In: Index Nominum Genericorum. In: Regnum Vegetabile but this species is now included in '' Canthium coromandelicum''. ''Canthium'' is a member of Vanguerieae, a tribe that is

monophyletic In cladistics for a group of organisms, monophyly is the condition of being a clade—that is, a group of taxa composed only of a common ancestor (or more precisely an ancestral population) and all of its lineal descendants. Monophyletic gro ...

and easily recognized morphologically, but in which generic boundaries were, for a long time, very unclear. ''Canthium'' was especially problematic, and until the 1980s, it was defined broadly and known to be polyphyletic. '' Psydrax'' was separated from it in 1985, as was '' Keetia'' in 1986. These were followed by '' Pyrostria'' and ''

Multidentia ''Multidentia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the Family (biology), family Rubiaceae. Distribution ''Multidentia'' is restricted to tropical Africa with the greatest concentration of species occurring in eastern Africa. Taxonomy It was orig ...

'' in 1987. The

subgenus In biology, a subgenus (plural: subgenera) is a taxonomic rank directly below genus. In the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, a subgeneric name can be used independently or included in a species name, in parentheses, placed between t ...

Afrocanthium ''Afrocanthium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. It consists of deciduous, unarmed trees, and shrubs. They are native to East Africa, from Sudan and Ethiopia to South Africa. Taxonomy ''Afrocanthium'' was first recogniz ...

'' was raised to generic rank in 2004, followed by '' Bullockia'' in 2009. A few species were transferred to ''Canthium'' from '' Rytigynia'' and other genera in 2004. The genus was further reduced by the transfer of species to '' Peponidium'' and '' Pyrostria''. In 2016, two ''Canthium'' species endemic to the Philippines were transferred to a genus of their own, ''

Kanapia ''Kanapia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. The genus is endemic to the Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no ...

''. The final circumscription of ''Canthium'' will remain in doubt until phylogenetic studies achieve greater resolution for the

clade A clade (), also known as a monophyletic group or natural group, is a group of organisms that are monophyletic – that is, composed of a common ancestor and all its lineal descendants – on a phylogenetic tree. Rather than the English term, ...

containing '' Canthium coromandelicum'' and its closest relatives.

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 ...

recognises the following species: * ''

Canthium aciculatum ''Canthium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. They are shrubs and small trees. The leaves are deciduous and the stems are usually thorny. Distribution ''Canthium'' species are predominantly found in Southeast Asia, espec ...

'' Ridl. * '' Canthium angustifolium'' Roxb. * ''

Canthium arboreum ''Canthium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. They are shrubs and small trees. The leaves are deciduous and the stems are usually thorny. Distribution ''Canthium'' species are predominantly found in Southeast Asia ...

'' Vidal * ''

Canthium aurantiacum ''Canthium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. They are shrubs and small trees. The leaves are deciduous and the stems are usually thorny. Distribution ''Canthium'' species are predominantly found in Southeast Asia ...

'' Merr. & L.M.Perry * '' Canthium berberidifolium'' Geddes * ''

Canthium bipinnatum ''Canthium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. They are shrubs and small trees. The leaves are deciduous and the stems are usually thorny. Distribution ''Canthium'' species are predominantly found in Southeast Asia ...

'' ( Blanco) Merr. * ''

Canthium brunneum ''Canthium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. They are shrubs and small trees. The leaves are deciduous and the stems are usually thorny. Distribution ''Canthium'' species are predominantly found in Southeast Asia ...

'' ( Merr.) Merr. * '' Canthium calvum'' Craib * '' Canthium cambodianum'' Pit. * ''

Canthium campanulatum ''Canthium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. They are shrubs and small trees. The leaves are deciduous and the stems are usually thorny. Distribution ''Canthium'' species are predominantly found in Southeast Asia, espe ...

'' Thwaites * ''

Canthium cavaleriei ''Canthium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. They are shrubs and small trees. The leaves are deciduous and the stems are usually thorny. Distribution ''Canthium'' species are predominantly found in Southeast Asia, espe ...

'' H.Lév. * ''

Canthium ciliatum ''Canthium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. They are shrubs and small trees. The leaves are deciduous and the stems are usually thorny. Distribution ''Canthium'' species are predominantly found in Southeast Asia, espe ...

'' (D.Dietr.) Kuntze * ''

Canthium coffeoides ''Canthium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. They are shrubs and small trees. The leaves are deciduous and the stems are usually thorny. Distribution ''Canthium'' species are predominantly found in Southeast Asia, espec ...

'' Pierre ex Pit. * ''

Canthium congestiflorum ''Canthium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. They are shrubs and small trees. The leaves are deciduous and the stems are usually thorny. Distribution ''Canthium'' species are predominantly found in Southeast Asia, espec ...

'' Ridl. * '' Canthium cordatum'' Dillwyn * '' Canthium coromandelicum'' ( Brum.f.) Alston * '' Canthium depressinerve'' Ridl. * ''

Canthium ellipticum ''Canthium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. They are shrubs and small trees. The leaves are deciduous and the stems are usually thorny. Distribution ''Canthium'' species are predominantly found in Southeast Asia, espec ...

'' ( Merr.) Merr. * '' Canthium fenicis'' ( Merr.) Merr. * '' Canthium ferrugineum'' Craib * '' Canthium filipendulum'' Pierre ex Pit. * '' Canthium fraternum'' Miq. * '' Canthium glaucum''

Hiern Hiern is a British surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Barry Hiern (born 1951), Australian cricketer *Ross Hiern (1922–1999), Australian cricketer *William Philip Hiern (1839–1925), British mathematician and botanist See also * ...

* ''

Canthium gracilipes ''Canthium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. They are shrubs and small trees. The leaves are deciduous and the stems are usually thorny. Distribution ''Canthium'' species are predominantly found in Southeast Asia ...

Kurz Sebastian Kurz (; born 27 August 1986) is a former Austrian politician who twice served as chancellor of Austria, initially from December 2017 to May 2019 and then a second time from January 2020 to October 2021. Kurz was born and raised in ...

* ''

Canthium hainanense ''Canthium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. They are shrubs and small trees. The leaves are deciduous and the stems are usually thorny. Distribution ''Canthium'' species are predominantly found in Southeast Asia ...

'' ( Merr.) Lantz * ''

Canthium hirtellum ''Canthium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. They are shrubs and small trees. The leaves are deciduous and the stems are usually thorny. Distribution ''Canthium'' species are predominantly found in Southeast Asia ...

'' Ridl. * ''

Canthium hispidonervosum ''Canthium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. They are shrubs and small trees. The leaves are deciduous and the stems are usually thorny. Distribution ''Canthium'' species are predominantly found in Southeast Asia, espec ...

'' ( De Wild.) C.M.Evrard * '' Canthium horridulum'' Craib * ''

Canthium horridum ''Canthium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. They are shrubs and small trees. The leaves are deciduous and the stems are usually thorny. Distribution ''Canthium'' species are predominantly found in Southeast Asia, espec ...

'' Blume * '' Canthium inerme'' ( L.f.) Kuntze * ''

Canthium korthalsianum ''Canthium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the Family (biology), family Rubiaceae. They are shrubs and small trees. The leaves are deciduous and the stems are usually Thorns, spines, and prickles, thorny. Distribution ''Canthium'' species a ...

'' Miq. * '' Canthium kuntzeanum'' Bridson * '' Canthium laeve'' Teijsm. & Binn. * ''

Canthium lasianthoides ''Canthium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. They are shrubs and small trees. The leaves are deciduous and the stems are usually thorny. Distribution ''Canthium'' species are predominantly found in Southeast Asia ...

'' Miq. * '' Canthium libericum'' Dinkl. * ''

Canthium longipes ''Canthium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. They are shrubs and small trees. The leaves are deciduous and the stems are usually thorny. Distribution ''Canthium'' species are predominantly found in Southeast Asia, espec ...

'' Geddes * ''

Canthium lucidum ''Canthium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. They are shrubs and small trees. The leaves are deciduous and the stems are usually thorny. Distribution ''Canthium'' species are predominantly found in Southeast Asia, espec ...

'' R.Br. * '' Canthium macrocarpum'' Thwaites * '' Canthium malayense'' K.M.Wong * ''

Canthium megacarpum ''Canthium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. They are shrubs and small trees. The leaves are deciduous and the stems are usually thorny. Distribution ''Canthium'' species are predominantly found in Southeast Asia ...

'' ( Merr.) Merr. * ''

Canthium megistocarpum ''Canthium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. They are shrubs and small trees. The leaves are deciduous and the stems are usually thorny. Distribution ''Canthium'' species are predominantly found in Southeast Asia ...

'' Merr. & L.M.Perry * ''

Canthium merrillianum ''Canthium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. They are shrubs and small trees. The leaves are deciduous and the stems are usually thorny. Distribution ''Canthium'' species are predominantly found in Southeast Asia, espec ...

'' Mabb. * '' Canthium merrillii'' (Setch.)

Christoph. Erling Christophersen (April 17, 1898 – November 9, 1994) was a Norwegian botanist, geographer and diplomat. He participated in and led several notable scientific expeditions in the 20th century, including the fifth Tanager Expedition (1924) to ...

* ''

Canthium mite ''Canthium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. They are shrubs and small trees. The leaves are deciduous and the stems are usually thorny. Distribution ''Canthium'' species are predominantly found in Southeast Asia, espec ...

Bartl. Friedrich Gottlieb Bartling (December 9, 1798 – November 20, 1875) was a German botanist who was a native of Hanover. He studied natural sciences at the University of Göttingen, and in 1818 took a botanical journey through Hungary and Croatia ...

ex DC. * '' Canthium molle'' King & Gamble * ''

Canthium moluccanum ''Canthium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. They are shrubs and small trees. The leaves are deciduous and the stems are usually thorny. Distribution ''Canthium'' species are predominantly found in Southeast Asia, espec ...

'' Roxb. * '' Canthium oblongum'' (Valeton) Kaneh. * ''

Canthium oliganthum ''Canthium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. They are shrubs and small trees. The leaves are deciduous and the stems are usually thorny. Distribution ''Canthium'' species are predominantly found in Southeast Asia ...

'' ( Miq.) Boerl. * ''

Canthium oligocarpum ''Canthium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. They are shrubs and small trees. The leaves are deciduous and the stems are usually thorny. Distribution ''Canthium'' species are predominantly found in Southeast Asia, espe ...

* ''

Canthium parvifolium ''Canthium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. They are shrubs and small trees. The leaves are deciduous and the stems are usually thorny. Distribution ''Canthium'' species are predominantly found in Southeast Asia ...

'' Roxb. * ''

Canthium paucinervium ''Canthium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. They are shrubs and small trees. The leaves are deciduous and the stems are usually thorny. Distribution ''Canthium'' species are predominantly found in Southeast Asia ...

'' ( Merr.) Merr. * ''

Canthium pedunculare ''Canthium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. They are shrubs and small trees. The leaves are deciduous and the stems are usually thorny. Distribution ''Canthium'' species are predominantly found in Southeast Asia, espec ...

'' Cav. * ''

Canthium perakanthus ''Canthium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. They are shrubs and small trees. The leaves are deciduous and the stems are usually thorny. Distribution ''Canthium'' species are predominantly found in Southeast Asia, espec ...

'' ined. * '' Canthium polyanthum'' Miq. * '' Canthium puberulum'' Thwaites ex Hook.f. * ''

Canthium quadratum ''Canthium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. They are shrubs and small trees. The leaves are deciduous and the stems are usually thorny. Distribution ''Canthium'' species are predominantly found in Southeast Asia ...

'' Craib * ''

Canthium rheedei ''Canthium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. They are shrubs and small trees. The leaves are deciduous and the stems are usually thorny. Distribution ''Canthium'' species are predominantly found in Southeast Asia ...

'' DC. * ''

Canthium sarcocarpum ''Canthium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. They are shrubs and small trees. The leaves are deciduous and the stems are usually thorny. Distribution ''Canthium'' species are predominantly found in Southeast Asia, espec ...

'' ( Merr.) Merr. * ''

Canthium sarmentosum ''Canthium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. They are shrubs and small trees. The leaves are deciduous and the stems are usually thorny. Distribution ''Canthium'' species are predominantly found in Southeast Asia ...

'' Craib * '' Canthium scabridum'' Ridl. * ''

Canthium scandens ''Canthium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. They are shrubs and small trees. The leaves are deciduous and the stems are usually thorny. Distribution ''Canthium'' species are predominantly found in Southeast Asia ...

'' Blume * ''

Canthium schlechterianum ''Canthium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. They are shrubs and small trees. The leaves are deciduous and the stems are usually thorny. Distribution ''Canthium'' species are predominantly found in Southeast Asia, espec ...

'' Merr. & L.M.Perry * ''

Canthium simile ''Canthium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. They are shrubs and small trees. The leaves are deciduous and the stems are usually thorny. Distribution ''Canthium'' species are predominantly found in Southeast Asia, espe ...

'' Merr. & Chun * ''

Canthium sordidum ''Canthium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. They are shrubs and small trees. The leaves are deciduous and the stems are usually thorny. Distribution ''Canthium'' species are predominantly found in Southeast Asia, espe ...

'' ( K.Schum.) Bullock * ''

Canthium spirostylum ''Canthium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. They are shrubs and small trees. The leaves are deciduous and the stems are usually thorny. Distribution ''Canthium'' species are predominantly found in Southeast Asia, espec ...

'' Miq. * ''

Canthium stellulatum ''Canthium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. They are shrubs and small trees. The leaves are deciduous and the stems are usually thorny. Distribution ''Canthium'' species are predominantly found in Southeast Asia, espec ...

'' Craib * '' Canthium strigosum'' Craib * '' Canthium strychnoides'' Craib * ''

Canthium subaureum ''Canthium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. They are shrubs and small trees. The leaves are deciduous and the stems are usually thorny. Distribution ''Canthium'' species are predominantly found in Southeast Asia ...

'' Craib * ''

Canthium subcapitatum ''Canthium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. They are shrubs and small trees. The leaves are deciduous and the stems are usually thorny. Distribution ''Canthium'' species are predominantly found in Southeast Asia, espec ...

'' ( Merr.) Merr. * '' Canthium suberosum'' Codd * ''

Canthium subsessilifolium ''Canthium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. They are shrubs and small trees. The leaves are deciduous and the stems are usually thorny. Distribution ''Canthium'' species are predominantly found in Southeast Asia ...

'' ( Merr.) Merr. * ''

Canthium tavoyanum ''Canthium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. They are shrubs and small trees. The leaves are deciduous and the stems are usually thorny. Distribution ''Canthium'' species are predominantly found in Southeast Asia, espec ...

'' (R.Parker) Merr. * ''

Canthium travancoricum ''Canthium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. They are shrubs and small trees. The leaves are deciduous and the stems are usually thorny. Distribution ''Canthium'' species are predominantly found in Southeast Asia, espec ...

Bedd. Colonel Richard Henry Beddome (11 May 1830 – 23 February 1911) was a British military officer and Natural history, naturalist in India, who became chief conservator of the Tamil Nadu Forest Department, Madras Forest Department. In the mid- ...

* '' Canthium trichophorum'' Quisumb. & Merr. * ''

Canthium umbelligerum ''Canthium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. They are shrubs and small trees. The leaves are deciduous and the stems are usually thorny. Distribution ''Canthium'' species are predominantly found in Southeast Asia, espe ...

'' Miq. * ''

Canthium vanwykii ''Canthium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. They are shrubs and small trees. The leaves are deciduous and the stems are usually thorny. Distribution ''Canthium'' species are predominantly found in Southeast Asia, espec ...

'' Tilney & Kok * ''

Canthium villarii ''Canthium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. They are shrubs and small trees. The leaves are deciduous and the stems are usually thorny. Distribution ''Canthium'' species are predominantly found in Southeast Asia, espec ...

'' Vidal * '' Canthium violaceum'' Zoll. & Moritzi

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q3244344 Rubiaceae genera Afrotropical realm flora Indomalayan realm flora Taxa named by Jean-Baptiste Lamarck Taxonomy articles created by Polbot