Flabellaria

Flabellaria Temporal range:
Fossil of Flabellaria mediterranea on display at the Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Genova
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Malpighiales
Family:	Malpighiaceae
Genus:	Flabellaria Cav., 1790
Species
Flabellaria paniculata Cav. 1790

Flabellaria is a genus in the Malpighiaceae, a family of about 75 genera of flowering plants in the order Malpighiales. Flabellaria includes one variable species, Flabellaria paniculata.

Etymology

The genus name Flabellaria comes from the Latin word flabellum meaning small fan, referring to the shape of the samara.

Synonyms

• Triaspis flabellaria A.Juss.
• Triopterys pinnata Poir.

Fossil record

This genus is known in the fossil record from the Cretaceous to the Eocene (age range: from 70.6 to 33.9 million years ago.).

Description

Flabellaria paniculata, the only living species in this genus, can reach a length of 3–15 metres (9.8–49.2 ft). These plants are woody vine, with paniculate, lateral and terminal inflorescences up to 20 cm. long. Flowers are radially symmetrical, about 1 centimeter in diameter, with white and spatulate petals.

Distribution and habitat

Flabellaria paniculata is widely distributed in equatorial Africa in thickets, woodlands, and forests, especially along rivers, at an altitude of 1,150–1,650 metres (3,770–5,410 ft).

Bibliography

• Abo, K.A., Olugbuyiro, J.A.O. (2004) Phytochemical and antibacterial studies of extracts of Flabellaria paniculata. African Journal of Biomedical Research 7(1):35-36.
• Abo, K.A., Olugbuyiro, J.A.O., Famakinde, S.A. (2004) Anti-infective and wound healing properties of Flabellaria paniculata 1. African journal of Biomedical Research 7 (2): 85-87.
• Olugbuyiro, J.A.O., Abo, K.A., Leigh, O.O. (2010) Wound healing effect Of Flabellaria paniculata leaf extracts Journal of Ethnopharmacology 127: 786-788.
• ORSTOM 1988. List Vasc. Pl. Gabon