Canephora Explained

Canephora is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae, indigenous to Madagascar.^{[1] [2]}

Description

The name Canephora, "basket bearer", refers to both the flattened peduncle topped by a "hollowed apex bearing flowers" and to the ritual office for unmarried young women in ancient Greece, as bearer of a sacred basket full of offerings during processions at festivals.^[3]

Canephora is unique in Rubiaceae in having peduncles transformed into flattened, green axes called phylloclades.^[4]

Canephora madagascariensis has bright white, campanulate flowers and apparently edible, red fruits, locally known as "hazongalala".^[5]

Species

Currently, five species are recognized, but several new species await description.^[4]

• Canephora angustifolia Wernham
• Canephora goudotii Wernham
• Canephora humblotii Drake
• Canephora madagascariensis J.F.Gmel.
• Canephora maroana A.DC.

External links

• Canephora in the World Checklist of Rubiaceae

Notes and References

1. Book: Jussieu, Antoine Laurent de. Antonii Laurentii de Jussieu Genera plantarum :secundum ordines naturales disposita, juxta methodum in Horto regio parisiensi exaratam, anno M.DCC.LXXIV.. August 8, 1789. apud viduam Herissant et Theophilum Barrois.
2. Web site: Canephora in the World Checklist of Rubiaceae. 11 June 2014.
3. Roccos JL. 1995. The kanephoros and her festival mantle in Greek art. American Journal of Archaeology. 99. 4. 641–666. 10.2307/506187. 506187. 191400219 .
4. De Block P, Vrijdaghs A. 2013. Development of reproductive organs in Canephora madagascariensis (Octotropideae - Rubiaceae). Plant Ecology and Evolution. 146. 3. 310–327. 10.5091/plecevo.2013.844. free.
5. Seligson D. 1972. On collecting herbs in Madagascar. Arnoldia. 32. 23–29. 10.5962/p.389370 .