Erblichia Explained

Erblichia odorata is the sole member of the monotypic genus Erblichia. It is colloquially known as Butterfly tree or Flor de Mayo.^{[1] [2]}

Description

Morphology

E. odorata is a large tree that can reach heights of 40 meters.^[3] It

Floral morphology

Flowers are orange, solitary and range from 6 - 11.5 cm long. Unlike other genera of Turneroideae which exhibit distyly, E. odorata does not.^[4]

Taxonomy

The genus name is in honour of Ch. Erblich, a German court garden-master in Hannover,^[5] it was first described and published in Bot. Voy. Herald on page 130 in 1854.

Originally the genera was composed of five species, however, these are currently classified as heterotypic synonyms.

Distribution

Its native range is Mexico to Central America, it is found in the countries of; Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua and Panamá.

Conservation status

As of 2019, E. odorata is classified as least concern and does not have any listed known threats.^[6]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Erblichia Seem. Plants of the World Online Kew Science . Plants of the World Online . 26 May 2021 . en.
2. Web site: 2022-05-20 . We found a passionflower tree! Its name is Flor de Mayo (Erblichia odorata) . 2023-01-03 . FLAAR MESOAMERICA . en-US.
3. Gama . Lilia . Narave . H . Moreno . R . 1985 . TURNERACEAE . Flora de Veracruz . 47 . BHL.
4. Shore . Joel S. . Arbo . Maria M. . Fernández . Aveliano . 2006 . Breeding system variation, genetics and evolution in the Turneraceae . New Phytologist . en . 171 . 3 . 539–551 . 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2006.01807.x . 0028-646X . 16866957 . free . free . 11336/41821.
5. Book: Burkhardt, Lotte . Verzeichnis eponymischer Pflanzennamen – Erweiterte Edition . Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum, Freie Universität Berlin . 2018 . 978-3-946292-26-5 . Berlin . German . Index of Eponymic Plant Names – Extended Edition . pdf . 10.3372/epolist2018 . 1 January 2021 . 187926901.
6. Erblichia odorata: Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) & IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T146822714A146826887 . IUCN . 2019-03-20 . International Union for Conservation of Nature . 10.2305/iucn.uk.2019-2.rlts.t146822714a146826887.en . en.