List of the largest genera of flowering plants
There are over 56 genera of flowering plants estimated to contain at least 500 described species. The largest of these is currently the legume genus Astragalus (milk-vetches), with over 3,000 species.
The sizes of plant genera vary widely from
Part of the disparity in genus sizes is attributable to historical factors. According to a hypothesis published by
The introduction of infrageneric taxa (such as the
Largest genera
According to a 2004 analysis by the botanical taxonomist David G. Frodin, a total of 57 genera of flowering plants contain at least 500 species.[1] It is clear that there are other genera with over 500 species, as the work of taxonomists continues.[3] Currently the number of species included in many genera is very different (e.g. see Psychotria), so their ranking is subject to changes. The actual numbers of species are imprecisely known also because of different approaches of taxonomists, and many of the genera have not been the subject of recent monographs. For instance, estimates of the number of species in the orchid genus Pleurothallis range from 1,120 to 2,500. Genera from some other groups of vascular plants (like pteridophytes), which have similarly large numbers of species, include Selaginella, Asplenium and Cyathea.[1]
References
- ^ JSTOR 4135449.
- ^ JSTOR 2429789.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-521-82071-4.
- JSTOR 41972309.