Jacaranda

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about 50, including:

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Jacaranda acutifolia

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Jacaranda arborea

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Jacaranda caerulea

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Jacaranda caroba

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Jacaranda caucana

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Jacaranda copaia

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Jacaranda glabra

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Jacaranda mimosifolia

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Jacaranda obtusifolia

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Jacaranda praetermissa

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Jacaranda sparrei

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Jacaranda is a neotropical genus in the family Bignoniaceae. Its members range in size from subshrubs to large trees.

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As is often the case with plants, the genus name is also used as the common name for cultivated varieties. The most often seen is the Blue Jacaranda Jacaranda mimosifolia (syn. J. acutifolia). This is widely grown for its ornamental value. Other members of the genus are also commercially important; for example the Copaia (Jacaranda copaia) is important for its timber because of its exceptionally long bole.

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Members of the genus Jacaranda differ from other Bignoninaceae by having a staminode that is longer than the stamens, 3-colpate pollen, and a chromosome number of 18. The flowers of most species are blue or blue-purple to magenta, though a few have white flowers.

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The genus is divided into two sections, Monolobos and Dilobos, based on the number of theca on the anthers. Section Monolobos (which includes Blue Jacarandas) has 18 species and is found primarily in the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, and western South America as well in smaller numbers in South Africa (particularly in Pietermaritzburg and Pretoria), where settlers imported the decorative trees. Dilobos, which is believed to be the primitive form, has 31 species and is found primarily in sub-Amazonian Brazil and the adjacent Parank Valley. The anatomy of the wood in the two sections also differs. Although usually treated in Monolobos, Jacaranda copaia seems to be different from all other members of the genus, and to be intermediate between the two sections.

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Neotropical: In biology, neotropical refers to geographical occurrence. A taxon with a neotropical distribution is restricted to the tropical regions of the New World, i.e. the Americas....

Genus: :...

Blue Jacaranda: The Blue Jacaranda, more often known simply as the "Jacaranda", is a sub-tropical tree native to South America that has been widely planted elsewhere because of its beautiful and long-lasting blue flowers. Older sources give it the systematic name Jacaranda acutifolia, but it is nowadays more usual...