''Cantua'' is a

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 ...

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 family

Polemoniaceae The Polemoniaceae (Jacob's-ladder or phlox family) are a family of flowering plants consisting of about 25 genera with 270–400 species of annuals and perennials native to the Northern Hemisphere and South America, with the center of diversity ...

which is in the order Ericales. They are restricted to central

South America South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern tip of the continent. It can also be described as the southe ...

where many species are endemics in the countries of occurrence. There are currently about 12 recognised species including:Plant Systematics - Cantua
/ref> *'' Cantua bicolor'' Lem., native to

Bolivia , image_flag = Bandera de Bolivia (Estado).svg , flag_alt = Horizontal tricolor (red, yellow, and green from top to bottom) with the coat of arms of Bolivia in the center , flag_alt2 = 7 × 7 square p ...

and

Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = Seal (emblem), National seal , national_motto = "Fi ...

*''

Cantua buxifolia 240px, Cantutas in Taquile Island, Lake Titicaca, Peru">Lake_Titicaca.html" ;"title="Taquile Island, Lake Titicaca">Taquile Island, Lake Titicaca, Peru. ''Cantua buxifolia'', (, Hispanicized spellings ''cantuta, cantu''), known as ''qantu'', ' ...

'' Juss. ex Lam., native to

*'' Cantua candelilla'' Brand *'' Cantua cuzcoensis'' Infantes *'' Cantua dendritica'' J.M.Porter & Prather *'' Cantua flexuosa'' (Ruiz & Pav.) Pers. *'' Cantua mediamnis'' J.M.Porter & Prather *'' Cantua pyrifolia'' Juss. ex Lam. *'' Cantua quercifolia'' Juss. *'' Cantua volcanica'' J.M.Porter & Prather Synonyms include: * ''Huthia'' Brand * ''Periphragmos'' Ruiz & Pav. * ''Tunaria'' Kuntze

References

Polemoniaceae Polemoniaceae genera {{Polemoniaceae-stub