Schinus is a genus of flowering trees and tall shrubs in the sumac family, Anacardiaceae. Members of the genus are commonly known as pepper trees. The Peruvian pepper tree (Schinus molle)[5] is the source of the spice known as pink peppercorn.[6]

Schinus
Schinus terebinthifolia
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Family: Anacardiaceae
Subfamily: Anacardioideae
Genus: Schinus
L. (1753)[1][2]
Type species
Schinus molle
Species

See text

Synonyms[4]
  • Duvaua Kunth (1824)
  • Molle Mill. (1754)
  • Piperodendron Heist. ex Fabr. (1759)
  • Sarcotheca Turcz. (1858) nom. illeg.
  • Schinos St.-Lag.(1880)
Schinus molle

The species of Schinus are native to South America, ranging from Peru and northeastern Brazil to southern South America.[4] Some species (e.g. Schinus terebinthifolia) have become an invasive species outside their natural habitats. Schinus polygama, although less well known, is also potentially weedy in mesic areas.

Etymology edit

The generic name is derived from the Greek word for Pistacia lentiscus, Σχίνος (schinos), which it resembles.[7] Considerable historic confusion has existed as to the correct gender of the genus name; as of 2015, this has been resolved with the determination that the correct gender of Schinus is feminine (rather than masculine), and adjectival names within the genus must be spelled accordingly.[8]

Species edit

34 species are currently accepted:[4]

Formerly placed here edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Genus: Schinus L." Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 2009-11-23. Retrieved 2011-02-22.
  2. ^ Linnaeus, C. (1753), Species Plantarum 1: 388
  3. ^ "Schinus L." TROPICOS. Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved 2010-02-09.
  4. ^ a b c Schinus L. Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  5. ^ Seidemann, Johannes (2005). World spice plants. Springer. p. 337. ISBN 978-3-540-22279-8.
  6. ^ Allen, Gary (2007). The Herbalist in the Kitchen. University of Illinois Press. pp. 26–27. ISBN 978-0-252-03162-5.
  7. ^ Quattrocchi, Umberto (2000). CRC World Dictionary of Plant Names: Common Names, Scientific Names, Eponyms, Synonyms, and Etymology. Vol. IV R-Z. Taylor & Francis US. p. 2405. ISBN 978-0-8493-2678-3.
  8. ^ Zona, S. (2015). The correct gender of Schinus (Anacardiaceae). Phytotaxa, 222(1), 75–77. doi:https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.222.1.9
  9. ^ a b "GRIN Species Records of Schinus". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2015-07-22.

External links edit

  •   Media related to Schinus at Wikimedia Commons