| Classification |
| Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order Type: Eudicots-Basal Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Clethraceae
Family Common Name: White Alder Family
Genera: Clethra |
Defining Morphology: Floral
Features: Inflorescences are indeterminate in racemes or panicles. Flowers
bisexual and actinomorphic. Fruit and Seed Features: Dicotyledon. Fruit
is a capsule, which is enclosed in the calyx. Vegetative Features: Habit
as shrubs or trees. Leaves simple, alternate, estipulate and have stellate
hairs. Leaves are often clustered at the end of branches.
Distribution: Tropical and
warm-temperate of Eastern Asia to the East Indies, and eastern North and
South America.
Economic Use: As cultivated
garden ornamentals.
Number of Genera Globally:
2
Number of Species Globally:
76
