Rank Genus | ||
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Similar Anthotroche, Trianaea, Cuatresia, Benthamiella, Anthocercis viscosa | ||
Anthocercis, commonly known as tailflower, is a genus of shrubs which are endemic in southern temperate Australia with the center of distribution in the South West Botanical Province of Western Australia. All species of Anthocercis contain tropane alkaloids, and have occasionally caused poisoning in children or suspected of poisoning stock. Anthocercis is known as the only Solanaceous plant known to produce resin compounds on glandular trichomes.
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Taxonomy
The genus, which is placed within the Solanaceae family, was first formally described by botanist Jacques Labillardière in Novae Hollandiae Plantarum Specimen, Vol. 2: 19 (1806). The type species of the genus is Anthocercis littorea Labill.
Anthocercis lies in the subfamily Nicotianoideae. The genus is considered to be part of the tribe "Anthocercideae," but the monophyly of this grouping has been called into question. The species within Anthocercis, however, form a monophyletic group, and lie sister to all other genera of the "Anthocercidoid clade.".
Etymology
Anthocercis; from the Greek anthos (a flower) and kerkis (a ray), in reference to the narrow corolla-lobes.
Species
