Colletia

Colletia is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the Rhamnaceae family, with five species of spiny shrubs. All species of this genus are native to southern South America. They are non-legume nitrogen fixers.

Colletia
Colletia paradoxa
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Rosales
Family:	Rhamnaceae
Tribe:	Colletieae
Genus:	Colletia Comm. ex Juss.
Species
See text

Taxonomy

Species

Colletia comprises the following species:^[1][2]

• Colletia hystrix Clos - pink crucifixion thorn
• Colletia paradoxa (Spreng.) Escal. - crucifixion thorn, thorn of the cross, anchor plant
• Colletia spartioides Bertero ex Colla
• Colletia spinosissima J.F.Gmel.
• Colletia ulicina Gillies & Hook.

Species names with uncertain taxonomic status

The status of the following species and hybrids is unresolved:^[1]

• Colletia crenata Regel (unplaced)
• Colletia cruzerillo Bertero (unplaced)
• Colletia disperma Moc. & Sessé ex DC. (unplaced)
• Colletia horrida Brongn. ex Drap. (unplaced)
• Colletia velutina Spreng. (unplaced)

Formerly placed here

• Celtis iguanaea (Jacq.) Sarg. (as Colletia iguanaea Scop.)
• Discaria americana Gillies & Hook. (as Colletia longispina Hook. & Arn. and C. longissima Steud.)
• Retanilla stricta Hook. & Arn. (as Colletia tetrandra Clos)
• Retanilla trinervia (Gillies & Hook.) Hook. & Arn. (as Colletia treba Bertero ex Colla)
• Rhamnus diffusa Clos (as Colletia maytenoides Griseb.)
• Scutia spicata (Humb. & Bonpl. ex Schult.) Weberb. (as Colletia spicata Humb. & Bonpl. ex Schult.)
• Trevoa campanulata (Phil.) Reiche (as Colletia campanulata Phil.)
• Trevoa quinquenervia Gillies & Hook. (as Colletia tralhuen Bertero ex Colla)