Eliea Explained

Eliea is a genus of flowering plants, shrubs or small trees, in the St. Johnswort family, Hypericaceae. It comprises a single species, Eliea articulata, which is endemic to Madagascar.

Description

It is a small shrub growing up to in height with jointed branches and opposite leaves. The flowers have five petals, numerous stamens, and three styles.

Taxonomy

The genus was named in honor of M. Elie de Beaumont. Eliea articulata was originally described as Hypericum articulatum Lam. in 1797. It was renamed Eliea articulata in 1830, published in the Annales des Sciences Naturelles.

Eliea brevistyla and Eliea majorifolia are considered synonyms in Kew's Plants of the World Online and the Tropicos Catalogue of the Plants of Madagascar.