Ellipanthus

Ellipanthus is a genus of plants in the family Connaraceae. The generic name is from the Greek meaning "defective flower", referring to the incomplete development of some of the stamens.^[2]

Ellipanthus
Ellipanthus unifoliatus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Oxalidales
Family:	Connaraceae
Genus:	Ellipanthus Hook.f.[1]
Species
See text

Description

Ellipanthus species grow as shrubs or small trees. The twigs are tomentose, especially when young. Inflorescences consist of four or five flowers. The fruits are densely tomentose with a woody pericarp.^[2]

Distribution and habitat

Ellipanthus species grow naturally in Africa, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, mainland Southeast Asia and Malesia. Their habitat is lowland mixed dipterocarp forest and mixed swamp forest.^[2]

Species

As of May 2014^[update] The Plant List recognises 10 accepted taxa (of species and infraspecific names):^[3]

• Ellipanthus beccarii Pierre
• Ellipanthus calophyllus Kurz
• Ellipanthus glabrifolius Merr.
• Ellipanthus hemandradenioides Brenan
• Ellipanthus madagascariensis (Schellenb.) Capuron ex Keraudren
• Ellipanthus razanatsimae Randrian. & Lowry
• Ellipanthus tomentosus Kurz
  • var. kingii (Boerl. & Koord.) Leenh.
• Ellipanthus unifoliatus (Thwaites) Thwaites
• Ellipanthus unifoliolatus (Thwaites Thwaites) Thwaites