Alzatea

{{Short description|Genus of trees}} {{Speciesbox | image = Alzatea verticillata imported from iNaturalist photo 173522367 on 27 January 2022.jpg | image_alt = A green plant with opposite, rounded, oblong leaves. The newest pairs of leaves seem to be joined at the centre. | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name=IUCN>{{cite iucn |author= Condit, R. |date=2020 |title= ''Alzatea verticillata'' |volume=2020 |article-number= e.T133516498A176093998 |doi= 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T133516498A176093998.en |access-date=January 5, 2025}}</ref> | grandparent_authority = S.A.Graham | genus = Alzatea | parent_authority = Ruiz & Pav. | species = verticillata | authority = Ruiz & Pav. | subdivision_ranks = Subspecies | subdivision = *''Alzatea verticillata'' subsp. ''amplifolia'' {{small|S.A.Graham}} *''Alzatea verticillata'' subsp. ''verticillata'' | subdivision_ref = <ref name=powo>{{cite web |title=''Alzatea verticillata'' Ruiz & Pav. |url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:30130749-2 |website=Plants of the World Online |publisher=Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew |access-date=9 November 2024}}</ref> | synonyms = ''Alzatea mexicana'' {{small|F.Dietr., nom. illeg.}} | synonyms_ref = <ref name = powo/> }}

'''''Alzatea verticillata''''' is a small flowering tree, native to the Neotropics. It inhabits moist submontane forests from Costa Rica and Panama in Central America south to Peru and Bolivia in tropical South America. It is the sole species of genus '''''Alzatea''''' and family '''Alzateaceae'''.

==Description== ''Alzatea verticillata'' has opposite, obovate or elliptical leaves. Its flowers are actinomorphic and bisexual, and lack a corolla. The flowers and fruit are similar to the Myrtaceae but the ovary is superior. The fruit is a loculicidal capsule.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Heywood|first1=V.|last2=Brummitt|first2=R.|last3=Culham|first3=A.|last4=Seberg|first4=O.|title=Flowering plant families of the world|date=2007|publisher=Firefly Books|location=Buffalo NY|isbn=978-1-55407-206-4|page=27|edition=1st}}</ref>

The closest relatives of ''Alzatea'' are in the families Penaeaceae, Oliniaceae, Rhynchocalycaceae of southern Africa.

==References== {{reflist}} * Schönenberger, Jürg and Conti, Elena. ''Molecular phylogeny and floral evolution of Penaeaceae, Oliniaceae, Rhynchocalycaceae, and Alzateaceae (Myrtales)''. <u>American Journal of Botany</u>. 2003;90:293-309.

Category:Monotypic Myrtales genera Category:Flora of the Neotropical realm Category:Trees of Costa Rica Category:Trees of Panama Category:Trees of Peru Category:Myrtales Category:Plants described in 1802 Category:Taxa named by José Antonio Pavón Jiménez Category:Taxa named by Hipólito Ruiz López