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Schinus

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Schinus
Schinus terebinthifolia
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Family: Anacardiaceae
Subfamily: Anacardioideae
Genus: Schinus
L. (1753)[1][2]
Type species
Schinus molle
Species

See text

Synonyms[4]
  • Duvaua Kunth (1824)
  • Molle Mill. (1754)
  • Piperodendron Heist. ex Fabr. (1759)
  • Sarcotheca Turcz. (1858) nom. illeg.
  • Schinos St.-Lag.(1880)
Schinus molle

Schinus is a genus of flowering trees and tall shrubs in the sumac family, Anacardiaceae. Members of the genus are commonly known as pepper trees. The Peruvian pepper tree (Schinus molle)[5] is the source of the spice known as pink peppercorn.[6]

The species of Schinus are native to South America, ranging from Peru and northeastern Brazil to southern South America.[4] Some species (e.g. Schinus terebinthifolia) have become an invasive species outside their natural habitats. Schinus polygama, although less well known, is also potentially weedy in mesic areas.

Etymology

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The generic name is derived from the Greek word for Pistacia lentiscus, Σχίνος (schinos), which it resembles.[7]

There has been considerable historical confusion as to the correct grammatical gender of the genus name; this was resolved in 2015 with the determination that the correct gender of Schinus is feminine, not masculine, and adjectival names within the genus must be spelled accordingly.[8] E.g. Schinus polygamus is found in the literature, but Schinus polygama is deemed to be the correct form. This is because botanical tradition uses feminine gender for the genus name Schinus, as is the classical tradition for most genus names of trees that end in -us,[9] and polygama is an adjective that must take a feminine form (not the masculine form polygamus).[10]

Species

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34 species are currently accepted:[4]

Formerly placed here

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References

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  1. ^ "Genus: Schinus L." Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 2009-11-23. Retrieved 2011-02-22.
  2. ^ Linnaeus, C. (1753), Species Plantarum 1: 388
  3. ^ "Schinus L." TROPICOS. Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved 2010-02-09.
  4. ^ a b c Schinus L. Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  5. ^ Seidemann, Johannes (2005). World spice plants. Springer. p. 337. ISBN 978-3-540-22279-8.
  6. ^ Allen, Gary (2007). The Herbalist in the Kitchen. University of Illinois Press. pp. 26–27. ISBN 978-0-252-03162-5.
  7. ^ Quattrocchi, Umberto (2000). CRC World Dictionary of Plant Names: Common Names, Scientific Names, Eponyms, Synonyms, and Etymology. Vol. IV R-Z. Taylor & Francis US. p. 2405. ISBN 978-0-8493-2678-3.
  8. ^ Zona, S. (2015). The correct gender of Schinus (Anacardiaceae). Phytotaxa, 222(1), 75–77. doi:https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.222.1.9
  9. ^ Turland, N. (2013), The Code Decoded: A user's guide to the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants, vol. Regnum Vegetabile Volume 155, Koeltz Scientific Books, ISBN 978-3-87429-433-1
  10. ^ Stearn, William T. (1992), Botanical Latin: History, grammar, syntax, terminology and vocabulary (4th ed.), David and Charles, ISBN 0-7153-0052-0
  11. ^ a b "GRIN Species Records of Schinus". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2015-07-22.
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  • Media related to Schinus at Wikimedia Commons