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{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = ''Jacarandas''
| image = Jacaranda_in_Blossom.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = Flowering Jacaranda
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Lamiales]]
| familia = [[Bignoniaceae]]
| genus = '''''Jacaranda'''''
| genus_authority = [[Antoine Laurent de Jussieu|Juss.]]
| subdivision_ranks = [[Species]]
| subdivision = See text.
}}

'''''Jacaranda''''' (pronounced {{IPA|[ʒa.ka.ˈran.da]}}, {{IPA|[ha.ka.ˈran.da]}}, or {{IPA|[ˌdʒæk.ə.ˈran.də]}}) is a [[genus]] of 49 species of [[flowering plant]]s in the family [[Bignoniaceae]], native to tropical and subtropical regions of [[South America|South]] and [[Central America]], [[Mexico]], and the [[Caribbean]]. The genus name is also used as the common name.

[[Image:Jacarandatree.jpg|thumb|left|Large tree in full bloom.]]
The species are [[shrub]]s to large [[tree]]s ranging in size from 2-30 m tall. The [[leaf|leaves]] are bipinnate in most species, pinnate or simple in a few species. The [[flower]]s are produced in conspicuous large [[panicle]]s, each flower with a five-lobed blue to purple-blue [[corolla]]; a few species have white flowers. The [[fruit]] is an oblong to oval flattened [[capsule (fruit)|capsule]] containing numerous slender [[seed]]s. The genus differs from other genera in the Bignoniaceae in having a [[staminode]] that is longer than the [[stamen]]s, tricolpate [[pollen]], and a [[chromosome]] number of 18.

The genus is divided into two sections, sect. ''Jacaranda'' (syn. sect. ''Monolobos'', an invalid name as it includes the type species of the genus, ''J. caerulea'') and sect. ''Dilobos'' DC., based on the number of [[theca]]e on the [[anther]]s. Sect. ''Jacaranda'' (which includes Blue Jacarandas) has 18 species and is found primarily in western South America, Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean. Sect. ''Dilobos'', which is believed to be the primitive form, has 31 species and is found primarily in southeastern [[Brazil]] including the [[Paraná River]] valley. The anatomy of the [[wood]] in the two sections also differs. Although usually treated in sect. ''Jacaranda'', ''J. copaia'' differs somewhat from all other members of the genus, and may be intermediate between the two sections (Dos Santos & Miller 1997).

==Selected species==
{|
|- valign=top
|
;Sect. ''Jacaranda''
*''[[Jacaranda acutifolia]]'' Bonpl.
*''[[Jacaranda arborea]]'' Urb.
*''[[Jacaranda brasiliana]]'' (Lam.) Pers.
*''[[Jacaranda caerulea]]'' (L.) J.St.-Hil.
*''[[Jacaranda caucana]]'' Pittier
*''[[Jacaranda copaia]]'' (Aubl.) D.Don
*''[[Jacaranda cuspidifolia]]'' Mart. ex DC.
*''[[Jacaranda hesperia]]'' Dugand.
*''[[Jacaranda mimosifolia]]'' D.Don
*''[[Jacaranda obtusifolia]]'' Humboldt & Bonpl.
*''[[Jacaranda orinocensis]]'' Sandw.
*''[[Jacaranda poitaei]]'' Urb.
*''[[Jacaranda praetermissa]]'' Sandw.
*''[[Jacaranda sparrei]]'' A.H.Gentry
|
;Sect. ''Dilobos''
*''[[Jacaranda bracteata]]'' Bur. & K.Schum.
*''[[Jacaranda campinae]]'' A.Gentry & Morawetz
*''[[Jacaranda carajasensis]]'' A.Gentry
*''[[Jacaranda caroba]]'' (Vell.) DC.
*''[[Jacaranda crassifolia]]'' Morawetz
*''[[Jacaranda duckei]]'' Vattimo
*''[[Jacaranda glabra]]'' (DC.) Bur. & K.Schum.
*''[[Jacaranda intricata]]'' A.Gentry & Morawetz
*''[[Jacaranda irwinii]]'' A.Gentry
*''[[Jacaranda jasminoides]]'' (Thunb.) Sandw.
*''[[Jacaranda macrantha]]'' Cham.
*''[[Jacaranda macrocarpa]]'' Bur. & K.Schum.
*''[[Jacaranda micrantha]]'' Cham.
*''[[Jacaranda montana]]'' Morawetz
*''[[Jacaranda morii]]'' A.Gentry
*''[[Jacaranda mutabilis]]'' Hassl.
*''[[Jacaranda obovata]]'' Cham.
*''[[Jacaranda oxyphylla]]'' Cham.
*''[[Jacaranda paucifoliata]]'' Mart. ex DC.
*''[[Jacaranda puberula]]'' Cham.
*''[[Jacaranda racemosa]]'' Cham.
*''[[Jacaranda rufa]]'' Manso
*''[[Jacaranda simplicifolia]]'' K.Schum.
*''[[Jacaranda subalpina]]'' Morawetz
*''[[Jacaranda ulei]]'' Bur. & K.Schum.
|}

==Cultivation and uses==

[[Image:Jacaranda seedling.png|left|thumb|125px|Jacaranda seedling]]

Several species are widely grown as [[ornamental plant]]s throughout the subtropical regions of the world, valued for their intense flower displays. The most often seen is the [[Blue Jacaranda]] ''Jacaranda mimosifolia'' ([[synonymy|syn.]] ''J. acutifolia'' hort. non Bonpl.). Other members of the genus are also commercially important; for example the [[Jacaranda copaia|Copaia]] (''Jacaranda copaia'') is important for its [[timber]] because of its exceptionally long bole.

[[Image:BGL_Jacaranda.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Jacaranda in full bloom on 12th Main, Indira Nagar, [[Bangalore]], India]]

[[Pretoria]] in [[South Africa]] is popularly known as '''The Jacaranda City''' due to the enormous number of Jacaranda trees planted as street trees and in parks and gardens. In flowering time the city appears blue/purple in colour when seen from the nearby hills because of all the Jacaranda trees. The time of year the Jacarandas bloom in Pretoria, coincide with the year-end exams at the [[University of Pretoria]] and legend has it that if a flower from the Jacaranda tree drops on your head, you will pass all your exams. Other towns and cities in South Africa have Jacaranda trees, but none produce such a show as that of Pretoria.

<!-- Unsourced image removed: [[Image:Pretoriajacaranda.jpg|thumb|left|250x|Jacaranda in full bloom in [[Pretoria]], [[South Africa]]]] -->

The city of [[Brisbane]] in [[Australia]] has a local reputation of having a significant population of Jacaranda trees. The [[University of Queensland]] in the city's inner west has a very high concentration of the tree, and due to the impressive display of purple flowers in mid-Spring, which wind up littering vast sections of the [[suburbs]], local [[folklore]] claims that "one won't start studying for exams until the jacarandas have molted". This has led to the slang name "exam tree" being attached to the plant. At Sydney University there exists a similar expression "by the time the jacaranda in the main quadrangle flowers, it's too late to start studying for exams".

Jacarandas in bloom have become closely associated with Brisbane and South East Queensland. The Brisbane City Council have used jacarandas to line avenues, and commercial developments in some areas, particularly along the [[Brisbane River]] have incorporated jacarandas into their landscape design. The trees are common in parks throughout the city, most notably in a long curved avenue in the inner city [[New Farm Park, Brisbane|New Farm Park]], in [[Goodna, Queensland|Goodna]], and in private backyards. Brisbane's hilly geography allows views of the city and suburbs in which the brightly coloured flowers can be easily seen for miles. The jacaranda has become so much a part of the city's identity that contemporary art, particularly of streetscapes, often incorporates the flowering jacaranda, despite the fact that it flowers for approximately six weeks from September through October.

[[Image:JacarandaWooroolinAustralia.JPG|left|thumb|Old church surrounded by jacarandas in bloom, Wooroolin, Australia.]]

The city of [[Grafton, New South Wales|Grafton]] on the edge of the New England plateau in northern [[New South Wales]], Australia, is also famous for its Jacarandas. Every October the city has a Jacaranda festival during the period of full bloom. A street parade, local public holiday and a series of events are held. A local public holiday sees the city's businesses perform street theatre for passers by and street stalls proliferate. A Jacaranda Queen and Jacaranda Princess are named at a formal ball.

Jacarandas are also popular in south Florida and the southwestern [[United States]], notably in [[Phoenix, Arizona]] and [[Los Angeles]] and [[San Diego, California]]. Jacaranda can be found throughout most of southern [[California]], where they were imported by the horticulturalist [[Kate Sessions]]. In California, jacarandas are known as the trees that bloom twice a year, although the fall bloom is generally not as striking as the spring bloom. Tampa, St. Petersburg, and other southern Florida cities are ribboned by purple flowers during peak bloom of April. Jacaranda trees are principally found in parks and interspersed along the avenues and streets. Jacarandas have been introduced to Israel over 50 years ago, where they are in full bloom during May. They are popular and can be found in cities all over Israel.

==References and external links==
* [http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/splist.pl?6151 Germplasm Resources Information Network: ''Jacaranda'']
* Dos Santos, G., & Miller, R. B. (1997). Wood anatomy of ''Jacaranda'' (Bignoniaceae): Systematic relationships in sections ''Monolobos'' and ''Dilobos'' as suggested by twig and stem rays. ''IAWA Journal'' 18: 369-383. Available [http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/pdf1997/santo97a.pdf online] (pdf file).
* [http://www.goodnarsljacfest.gil.com.au/ Goodna RSL Jacaranda Festival at Evan Marginson Park, Goodna]

<gallery>
Image:Jacaranda.JPG|South East Queensland is noted for its jacarandas which are common in public areas, parks and suburban backyards.
Image:Jacaranda trees in Montagu Ave, Harare, Zimbabwe in 1975.jpg|Jacaranda trees in Montagu Ave, Harare, Zimbabwe in 1975.
Image:Jacaranda_flowerlitter.jpg|Purple jacaranda flowers carpet the ground as they fall.
Image:Jacaranda_bhutan.jpg|Jacaranda trees in Bhutan
</gallery>

[[Category:Bignoniaceae]]
[[Category:Trees of Brazil]]
[[Category:Trees of Mexico]]
[[Category:Horticulture]]
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