''Clethra'' is a genus of flowering

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 or small trees described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753.Linnaeus, Carl von. 1753. Species Plantarum 1: 396
in Latin ''Clethra'' is one of two genera in the family Clethraceae (the other being '' Purdiaea''). The species may be evergreen or deciduous, and all bear flowers in clusters (inflorescences), which correspond to

raceme A raceme ( or ) or racemoid is an unbranched, indeterminate type of inflorescence bearing flowers having short floral stalks along the shoots that bear the flowers. The oldest flowers grow close to the base and new flowers are produced as the s ...

s or

panicle A panicle is a much-branched inflorescence. (softcover ). Some authors distinguish it from a compound spike inflorescence, by requiring that the flowers (and fruit) be pedicellate (having a single stem per flower). The branches of a panicle are of ...

s. The flowers are quite small, white or pinkish, and each bear 5 free

petal Petals are modified Leaf, leaves that surround the reproductive parts of flowers. They are often advertising coloration, brightly colored or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. All of the petals of a flower are collectively known as the ''c ...

s, numerous stamens, and a 3-chambered seed capsule. The

leaves A leaf (plural, : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant plant stem, stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", wh ...

, simple, ovate, and alternate or opposite, bear characteristic stellate

hairs Hair is a protein filament that grows from follicles found in the dermis. Hair is one of the defining characteristics of mammals. The human body, apart from areas of glabrous skin, is covered in follicles which produce thick terminal and fine ...

. The seeds are very small and numerous.

Distribution

''Clethra'' species are

native Native may refer to: People * Jus soli, citizenship by right of birth * Indigenous peoples, peoples with a set of specific rights based on their historical ties to a particular territory ** Native Americans (disambiguation) In arts and entert ...

to a variety of habitats, including swamps, woodland, and rocky sites from temperate to tropical climates in eastern and southeastern Asia, Malesia, North and South America, and one species (''C. arborea'') on the island of

Madeira ) , anthem = ( en, "Anthem of the Autonomous Region of Madeira") , song_type = Regional anthem , image_map=EU-Portugal_with_Madeira_circled.svg , map_alt=Location of Madeira , map_caption=Location of Madeira , subdivision_type=Sovereign st ...

Fossil record

Several fossil fruits and seeds of †''Clethra cimbrica'' have been described from

middle Miocene The Middle Miocene is a sub-epoch of the Miocene Epoch made up of two stages: the Langhian and Serravallian stages. The Middle Miocene is preceded by the Early Miocene. The sub-epoch lasted from 15.97 ± 0.05 Ma to 11.608 ± 0.005 Ma (million y ...

strata In geology and related fields, a stratum ( : strata) is a layer of rock or sediment characterized by certain lithologic properties or attributes that distinguish it from adjacent layers from which it is separated by visible surfaces known as ei ...

of the Fasterholt area near Silkeborg in Central Jutland, Denmark.

Species

The number of species accepted varies between different authorities depending on taxonomic interpretation, but with a recent trend to reduce the number recognised as distinct. The recent ''

Flora of China (series) ''Flora of China'' is a scientific publication aimed at describing the plants native to China. The project is a collaborative scientific effort to publish the first modern English-language account of the 31,000 species of vascular plants of Ch ...

'' has cut the number accepted for China from 35 to seven species, and the US Department of AgricultureUS Department of Agriculture plants profile
/ref> recognises only two in the United States, synonymising ''C. tomentosa'' with ''C. alnifolia''. The following are accepted by the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families: * ''

Clethra acuminata ''Clethra acuminata,'' the mountain pepper bush, is a shrub native to the Appalachian Mountains of the southeastern United States. It has been reported from the states of Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Geor ...

'' – mountain pepper bush; S Appalachians ( Alabama to Pennsylvania) * ''

Clethra alcoceri ''Clethra'' is a genus of flowering shrubs or small trees described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753.Hidalgo,

Jalisco Jalisco (, , ; Nahuatl: Xalixco), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Jalisco ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Jalisco ; Nahuatl: Tlahtohcayotl Xalixco), is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the 32 Federal En ...

* '' Clethra alexandri'' - Jamaica * ''

Clethra alnifolia ''Clethra alnifolia'', the coastal sweetpepperbush or summersweet, is a species of flowering plant in the genus ''Clethra'' of the family Clethraceae, native to eastern North America from southern Nova Scotia and Maine south to northern Florida, ...

'' – sweet pepper bush; S + E United States ( Texas to Maine) * ''

Clethra arborea ''Clethra arborea'', commonly known as the lily-of-the-valley-tree, is a flowering plant in the genus '' Clethra''. It is found in Macaronesia where it is native to Madeira, extinct in the Canary Islands, and considered an introduced species ...

'' – lily of the valley tree;

Canary islands The Canary Islands (; es, Canarias, ), also known informally as the Canaries, are a Spanish autonomous community and archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, in Macaronesia. At their closest point to the African mainland, they are west of Morocc ...

†, Azores * ''

Clethra arfakana ''Clethra'' is a genus of flowering shrubs or small trees described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753.New Guinea * ''

Clethra barbinervis ''Clethra barbinervis'', the Japanese clethra, is a species of flowering plant in the family Clethraceae. It is native to eastern Asia, where it is found in southern China, Korea, and Japan. Its natural habitat is in open mountain forests. It is ...

'' – Japanese sweet shrub; SE China, Korea, Japan * '' Clethra bodinieri'' – S China * ''

Clethra canescens ''Clethra'' is a genus of flowering shrubs or small trees described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753.var. ''clementis'' – Borneo * ''

Clethra castaneifolia ''Clethra'' is a genus of flowering shrubs or small trees described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753.Clethra chiapensis'' -

Chiapas Chiapas (; Tzotzil language, Tzotzil and Tzeltal language, Tzeltal: ''Chyapas'' ), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Chiapas ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Chiapas), is one of the states that make up the Political divisions of Mexico, ...

* ''

Clethra consimilis ''Clethra'' is a genus of flowering shrubs or small trees described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753.Panama,

Costa Rica Costa Rica (, ; ; literally "Rich Coast"), officially the Republic of Costa Rica ( es, República de Costa Rica), is a country in the Central American region of North America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the no ...

* ''

Clethra conzattiana ''Clethra'' is a genus of flowering shrubs or small trees described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753.Oaxaca * '' Clethra crispa'' – Ecuador * ''

Clethra cubensis ''Clethra'' is a genus of flowering shrubs or small trees described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753.Cuba * ''

Clethra cuneata ''Clethra'' is a genus of flowering shrubs or small trees described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753.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 ...

* ''

Clethra delavayi ''Clethra'' is a genus of flowering shrubs or small trees described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753.Assam,

Myanmar Myanmar, ; UK pronunciations: US pronunciations incl. . Note: Wikipedia's IPA conventions require indicating /r/ even in British English although only some British English speakers pronounce r at the end of syllables. As John C. Wells, Joh ...

, Bhutan, Vietnam * ''

Clethra elongata ''Clethra'' is a genus of flowering shrubs or small trees described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753.Peru, Bolivia * ''

Clethra fabri ''Clethra'' is a genus of flowering shrubs or small trees described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753.Clethra fagifolia ''Clethra'' is a genus of flowering shrubs or small trees described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753.Clethra fargesii ''Clethra'' is a genus of flowering shrubs or small trees described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753.Clethra ferruginea'' - Peru * ''

Clethra fimbriata ''Clethra'' is a genus of flowering shrubs or small trees described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753.Clethra formosa'' - Costa Rica * ''

Clethra fragrans ''Clethra'' is a genus of flowering shrubs or small trees described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753.Michoacán Michoacán, formally Michoacán de Ocampo (; Purépecha: ), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Michoacán de Ocampo ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Michoacán de Ocampo), is one of the 32 states which comprise the Federal Entities of ...

, Guerrero * ''

Clethra galeottiana ''Clethra'' is a genus of flowering shrubs or small trees described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753.Puebla Puebla ( en, colony, settlement), officially Free and Sovereign State of Puebla ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Puebla), is one of the 32 states which comprise the Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into 217 municipalities and its cap ...

, Oaxaca,

* ''

Clethra gelida ''Clethra'' is a genus of flowering shrubs or small trees described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753.Clethra guyanensis ''Clethra'' is a genus of flowering shrubs or small trees described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753.Guyana Guyana ( or ), officially the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, is a country on the northern mainland of South America. Guyana is an indigenous word which means "Land of Many Waters". The capital city is Georgetown. Guyana is bordered by the ...

, Venezuela * ''

Clethra hartwegii ''Clethra'' is a genus of flowering shrubs or small trees described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753.Clethra hendersonii'' - Peninsular Malaysia * ''

Clethra hirsutovillosa ''Clethra'' is a genus of flowering shrubs or small trees described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753.Guerrero * ''

Clethra hondurensis ''Clethra'' is a genus of flowering shrubs or small trees described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753.Tabasco to

* ''

Clethra javanica ''Clethra'' is a genus of flowering shrubs or small trees described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753.Java,

Bali Bali () is a province of Indonesia and the westernmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands. East of Java and west of Lombok, the province includes the island of Bali and a few smaller neighbouring islands, notably Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, and Nu ...

, Lombok, Timor * ''

Clethra kaipoensis ''Clethra'' is a genus of flowering shrubs or small trees described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753.Clethra kebarensis'' - New Guinea * '' Clethra licanioides'' – Guatemala, Honduras * '' Clethra longispicata'' – Borneo, Philippines,

Sulawesi Sulawesi (), also known as Celebes (), is an island in Indonesia. One of the four Greater Sunda Islands, and the world's eleventh-largest island, it is situated east of Borneo, west of the Maluku Islands, and south of Mindanao and the Sulu Ar ...

, Maluku * ''

Clethra luzmariae ''Clethra'' is a genus of flowering shrubs or small trees described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753.Oaxaca * ''

Clethra macrophylla ''Clethra'' is a genus of flowering shrubs or small trees described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753.Veracruz,

Puebla Puebla ( en, colony, settlement), officially Free and Sovereign State of Puebla ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Puebla), is one of the 32 states which comprise the Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into 217 municipalities and its cap ...

* ''

Clethra mexicana ''Clethra'' is a genus of flowering shrubs or small trees described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753.Clethra oaxacana'' - Oaxaca * ''

Clethra obovata ''Clethra'' is a genus of flowering shrubs or small trees described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753.Clethra occidentalis ''Clethra'' is a genus of flowering shrubs or small trees described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753.Clethra oleoides ''Clethra'' is a genus of flowering shrubs or small trees described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753.Clethra ovalifolia ''Clethra'' is a genus of flowering shrubs or small trees described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753.Clethra pachecoana ''Clethra'' is a genus of flowering shrubs or small trees described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753.Chiapas Chiapas (; Tzotzil language, Tzotzil and Tzeltal language, Tzeltal: ''Chyapas'' ), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Chiapas ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Chiapas), is one of the states that make up the Political divisions of Mexico, ...

to Honduras * ''

Clethra pachyphylla ''Clethra pachyphylla'' is a tree in the family Clethraceae. The specific epithet ' is from the Greek meaning "thick leaves". Description ''Clethra pachyphylla'' grows up to tall. The fissured bark is pale grey. The scented flowers are white. T ...

'' – Borneo * ''

Clethra papuana ''Clethra'' is a genus of flowering shrubs or small trees described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753.Clethra paralelinervia'' – Ecuador * ''

Clethra × parvifolia ''Clethra'' is a genus of flowering shrubs or small trees described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753.Clethra pedicellaris ''Clethra'' is a genus of flowering shrubs or small trees described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753.Clethra peruviana ''Clethra'' is a genus of flowering shrubs or small trees described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753.Clethra petelotii ''Clethra'' is a genus of flowering shrubs or small trees described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753.Clethra poilanei ''Clethra'' is a genus of flowering shrubs or small trees described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753.Laos Laos (, ''Lāo'' )), officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic ( Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ, French: République démocratique populaire lao), is a socialist ...

* ''

Clethra pringlei ''Clethra'' is a genus of flowering shrubs or small trees described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753.Clethra pulgarensis ''Clethra'' is a genus of flowering shrubs or small trees described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753.Palawan * ''

Clethra purpusii ''Clethra'' is a genus of flowering shrubs or small trees described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753.Clethra pyrogena ''Clethra'' is a genus of flowering shrubs or small trees described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753.Clethra repanda ''Clethra'' is a genus of flowering shrubs or small trees described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753.Clethra retivenia ''Clethra'' is a genus of flowering shrubs or small trees described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753.Clethra revoluta'' – Colombia, Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru * ''

Clethra rosei ''Clethra'' is a genus of flowering shrubs or small trees described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753.Clethra rugosa ''Clethra'' is a genus of flowering shrubs or small trees described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753.Clethra scabra ''Clethra scabra'' is a shrub or tree growing in habitats from in altitude, native to the eastern Andes and adjacent montane woodlands and Chaco of Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, and northwest Argentina. It is able to reach in height, and is known ...

'' – Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, NW Argentina * ''

Clethra skutchii ''Clethra'' is a genus of flowering shrubs or small trees described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753.Clethra sleumeriana ''Clethra'' is a genus of flowering shrubs or small trees described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753.Clethra suaveolens ''Clethra'' is a genus of flowering shrubs or small trees described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753.Clethra sumatrana ''Clethra'' is a genus of flowering shrubs or small trees described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753.Sumatra Sumatra is one of the Sunda Islands of western Indonesia. It is the largest island that is fully within Indonesian territory, as well as the sixth-largest island in the world at 473,481 km2 (182,812 mi.2), not including adjacent i ...

* ''

Clethra sumbawaensis ''Clethra'' is a genus of flowering shrubs or small trees described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753.Lesser Sunda Islands The Lesser Sunda Islands or nowadays known as Nusa Tenggara Islands ( id, Kepulauan Nusa Tenggara, formerly ) are an archipelago in Maritime Southeast Asia, north of Australia. Together with the Greater Sunda Islands to the west they make up t ...

* ''

Clethra symingtonii ''Clethra'' is a genus of flowering shrubs or small trees described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753.Perak Perak () is a state of Malaysia on the west coast of the Malay Peninsula. Perak has land borders with the Malaysian states of Kedah to the north, Penang to the northwest, Kelantan and Pahang to the east, and Selangor to the south. Thailand's ...

* ''

Clethra talamancana ''Clethra'' is a genus of flowering shrubs or small trees described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753.Clethra tomentella ''Clethra'' is a genus of flowering shrubs or small trees described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753.Clethra tutensis ''Clethra'' is a genus of flowering shrubs or small trees described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753.Clethra tuxtlensis ''Clethra'' is a genus of flowering shrubs or small trees described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753.Veracruz * ''

Clethra uleana ''Clethra'' is a genus of flowering shrubs or small trees described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753.Clethra vicentina ''Clethra'' is a genus of flowering shrubs or small trees described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753. Ericales genera Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus