SafePlants

No images found for this plant ID: 5047.

Ensure images are uploaded to the Media Library and tagged with "5047" in the "plant_image_tag" taxonomy.

Safe for Children?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Safe for Dogs?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Safe for Cats?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Safe for Reptiles?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

ayenia

Scientific Name: Ayenia

Family: Sterculiaceae

Category: Dicot

Growth:

Duration:

Other Names:

       

Ayenia: A Genus in the Mallow Family

Ayenia is a genus encompassing various species of flowering plants, primarily found within the mallow family, Malvaceae. The name Ayenia also appears in the context of photography businesses, particularly focusing on wedding and lifestyle photography.

Considerations for Pets

  • Some Ayenia species are shrubs.
  • Some Ayenia species have serrated leaves.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Ayenia L.
  • Family: Malvaceae (though historically some classified it under Sterculiaceae)
  • Major Group: Angiosperms (Flowering plants)
  • Synonyms:
    • Nephropetalum pringlei B.L. Rob. & Greenm. (synonym for Ayenia limitaris)
    • Ayenia pusilla auct. non L. (synonym for Ayenia insulicola Cristbal)
  • Examples of Species: A. ardua, A. compacta, A. abutilifolia, A. acalyphifolia, A. acuminata, A. saligna, A. micrantha, A. pusilla, A. californica, A. euphrasiifolia, A. reflexa, A. magna, A. filiformis, A. microphylla, A. limitaris

Common Names

  • Rio Grande ayenia
  • Texas ayenia
  • California ayenia

Distribution and Habitat

  • Ayenia species are native to warm areas.
  • Ayenia microphylla occurs in the Trans-Pecos and Western Edwards Plateau on dry limestone hills and canyons.
  • Ayenia compacta is native to California and found slightly beyond its borders in Baja California.
  • Ayenia saligna is found in Colombia.
  • Ayenia limitaris is a rare North American species, found in Texas.

Morphological Characteristics

  • Erect, taprooted shrubs
  • Serrated leaves
  • Ayenia microphylla is a low, small shrub or sub-shrub.
  • Ayenia compacta is a perennial herb or shrub.
  • Ayenia abutilifolia is a low shrub with alternate, simple, ovate leaves with a cordate base, toothed margin, and acuminate apex.
  • Ayenia filiformis is a subshrub.
  • Forb to 40 cm
  • Leaves 2-4 cm
  • Tiny purple flowers in stem axils
  • Round fruit, 2-4 mm, breaking into 5 segments

Interactions with Other Organisms

  • Ayenia saligna has foliar nectaries.

Quirky Facts

  • One individual was named "Ayenia" after a flower that captivated their mother, who was a botanical biology student.

Further Information

  • Wikimedia Commons offers multimedia resources related to Ayenia.
  • Discover Life provides information on the biology, natural history, ecology, identification, and distribution of Ayenia.
  • The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service offers information on Ayenia limitaris (Texas Ayenia).