Lindera

? Lindera
Lindera melissifolia
Plant Info
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Laurales Family: Lauraceae Genus: Lindera Thunb.
species
See text.

Lindera is a genus of about 80-100 species of flowering plants in the family Lauraceae, mostly native to eastern Asia but with three species in eastern North America. The species are shrubs and small trees; common names include Spicebush and Benjamin Bush.

The leaves can be either deciduous or evergreen depending on species, and are alternate, entire or three-lobed, and strongly spicy-aromatic. The flowers are small, yellowish, with six petaloid sepals and no petals. The fruit is a small red, purple or black drupe containing a single seed.

Lindera species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including The Engrailed. One of the world's rarest bee species, the andrenid bee Andrena lauracea is apparently a specialist on Lindera (see Lindera benzoin).

Selected species

Lindera aggregata Lindera akoensis Lindera angustifolia Lindera benzoin - Common Spicebush, Benjamin Bush Lindera chienii Lindera chunii Lindera communis Lindera doniana Lindera erythrocarpa Lindera flavinervia Lindera floribunda Lindera foveolata Lindera fragrans Lindera glauca Lindera gracilipes Lindera guangxiensis Lindera kariensis Lindera kwangtungensis Lindera latifolia Lindera limprichtii Lindera longipedunculata Lindera lungshengensis Lindera megaphylla

Lindera melissifolia - Southern Spicebush Lindera metcalfiana Lindera monghaiensis Lindera motuoensis Lindera nacusua Lindera neesiana Lindera obtusiloba Lindera praecox Lindera prattii Lindera pulcherrima Lindera reflexa Lindera robusta Lindera rubronervia Lindera setchuenensis Lindera strychnifolia Lindera subcoriacea - Bog Spicebush Lindera supracostata Lindera thomsonii Lindera tienchuanensis Lindera tonkinensis Lindera umbellata Lindera villipes