''Clitoria'' 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 ...

of mainly tropical and subtropical,

insect Insects (from Latin ') are pancrustacean hexapod invertebrates of the class Insecta. They are the largest group within the arthropod phylum. Insects have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body ( head, thorax and abdomen), three pairs ...

-pollinated flowering pea vines.

Taxonomy

Naming of the genus

This genus was named after the human

clitoris The clitoris ( or ) is a female sex organ present in mammals, ostriches and a limited number of other animals. In humans, the visible portion – the glans – is at the front junction of the labia minora (inner lips), above the ope ...

, for the flowers bear a resemblance to the vulva. The first reference to the genus, which includes an illustration of the plant, was made in 1678 by Jacob Breyne, Jakób Breyne, a Poland, Polish naturalist, who described it as ''Flos clitoridis ternatensibus'', meaning 'Ternate, Ternatean flower of the clitoris'. Many vernacular names of these flowers in different languages are similarly based on references to female external genitalia. Controversies existed in the past among botanists regarding the good taste of the naming of the genus. The analogy drew sharp criticism from botanists such as James Edward Smith (botanist), James Edward Smith in 1807, Amos Eaton in 1817, Michel Étienne Descourtilz in 1826, and Eaton and William Wright (botanist), Wright in 1840. Some less explicit alternatives, like ''Vexillaria'' (Eaton 1817) and ''Nauchea'' (Descourtilz 1826), were proposed, but they failed to prosper, and the name ''Clitoria'' has survived to this day.

Species

, Plants of the World Online accepted the following species: *''Clitoria amazonum'' Mart. ex Benth. *''Clitoria andrei'' Fantz *''Clitoria annua'' J.Graham *''Clitoria arborea'' Benth. *''Clitoria arborescens'' R.Br. *''Clitoria australis'' Benth. *''Clitoria brachycalyx'' Harms *''Clitoria brachystegia'' Benth. *''Clitoria canescens'' Pittier ex Fantz *''Clitoria cavalcantei'' Fantz *''Clitoria cearensis'' Huber *''Clitoria chanondii'' Chuakul *''Clitoria cordiformis'' Fantz *''Clitoria cordobensis'' Burkart *''Clitoria coriacea'' Schery *''Clitoria dendrina'' Pittier *''Clitoria densiflora'' (Benth.) Benth. *''Clitoria epetiolata'' Burkart *''Clitoria fairchildiana'' R.A.Howard *''Clitoria falcata'' Lam. *''Clitoria flagellaris'' (Benth.) Benth. *''Clitoria flexuosa'' Fantz *''Clitoria fragrans'' Small *''Clitoria froesii'' Fantz *''Clitoria glaberrima'' Pittier *''Clitoria guianensis'' (Aubl.) Benth. *''Clitoria hanceana'' Hemsl. *''Clitoria hermannii'' Fantz *''Clitoria heterophylla'' Lam. *''Clitoria humilis'' Rose *''Clitoria irwinii'' Fantz *''Clitoria javanica'' Miq. *''Clitoria javitensis'' (Kunth) Benth. *''Clitoria juninensis'' Fantz *''Clitoria kaessneri'' Harms *''Clitoria kaieteurensis'' Fantz *''Clitoria lasciva'' Bojer ex Benth. *''Clitoria laurifolia'' Poir. *''Clitoria leptostachya'' Benth. *''Clitoria linearis'' Gagnep. *''Clitoria macrophylla'' Wall. ex Benth. *''Clitoria magentea'' Fantz *''Clitoria mariana'' L. *''Clitoria mexicana'' Link *''Clitoria monticola'' Brandegee *''Clitoria moyobambensis'' Fantz *''Clitoria mucronulata'' Benth. *''Clitoria nana'' Benth. *''Clitoria nervosa'' Herzog *''Clitoria obidensis'' Huber *''Clitoria pendens'' Fantz *''Clitoria pilosula'' Wall. ex Benth. *''Clitoria plumosa'' Fantz *''Clitoria polystachya'' Benth. *''Clitoria pozuzoensis'' J.F.Macbr. *''Clitoria sagotii'' Fantz *''Clitoria selloi'' Benth. *''Clitoria simplicifolia'' (Kunth) Benth. *''Clitoria snethlageae'' Ducke *''Clitoria speciosa'' Cav. *''Clitoria steyermarkii'' Fantz *''Clitoria stipularis'' Benth. *''Clitoria ternatea'' L. *''Clitoria triflora'' S.Watson *''Clitoria tunuhiensis'' Fantz *''Clitoria woytkowskii'' Fantz

Distribution

These plants are native to tropical, subtropical and temperate areas of the world, from western North America east to Australia.

Uses

The most widely known species of the genus is ''Clitoria ternatea'', also known as butterfly pea. It is used as an herbal medicine, and it is used as food, as well. Its roots are used in ayurveda Hindu medicine.

Gallery

Image:Clitoria MS4124.JPG, The shape of the ''Clitoria'' flowers has inspired the name of the genus File:Clitoria (447419053).jpg, ''Clitoria mariana'' flower File:Neel Aporajita (Clitoria ternatea) in Shantinagar, Dhaka.jpg, ''Clitoria ternatea'', known as ''Neel Aporajita'' in Bangladesh File:Khao tom-dok anchan53.JPG, Thai cuisine, Thai ''Khao tom'' sweet colored blue with ''Clitoria ternatea'' flowers File:Blue tea.jpg, Clitoria tea

Taxonomy

Naming of the genus

Species

Distribution

Uses

Gallery

See also

References

Further reading