Clethraceae

Plant Characteristics

Cultivation

Scientific Names

Read about Clethraceae in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture
Clethraceae (from the genus Clethra, the ancient Greek name of Alder). Pepperbush, or White Alder Family. Fig. 46. Tall shrubs or low trees: leaves alternate: flowers bisexual, regular, hypogynous; disk absent; calyx 5-parted, persistent; corolla saucer-shaped, of 5 separate petals; stamens 10, hypogynous; anthers opening by terminal pores, at first inverted, later erect; ovary superior, 3-celled; style 1; stigmas 3; ovules numerous: fruit a capsule. A single genus and about 30 species are distributed in the tropical and subtropical regions of both hemispheres; mostly American. Two species reach the eastern United States. The family is closely related to the Pyrolaceae and Ericaceae. The polypetalous corolla, temporarily inverted anthers and the 3-celled ovary are important characteristics. There is one fossil species known. A few species of Clethra are grown in North America for ornamental purposes. C. alnifolia is the native white alder or sweet pepperbush. ^CH The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.

Genera

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