Dombeya
Dombeya is a flowering plant genus. Traditionally included in the family Sterculiaceae, it is included in the expanded Malvaceae in the APG and most subsequent systematics. These plants are known by a number of vernacular names which sometimes, misleadingly, allude to the superficial similarity of flowering Dombeya to pears or hydrangeas. Therefore, the genus as a whole is often simply called dombeyas. The generic name commemorates Joseph Dombey, a French botanist and explorer in South America, involved in the notorious "Dombey affair", embroiling scientists and governments of France, Spain, and Britain for more than two years.
Distribution
These plants grow chiefly throughout Africa and Madagascar. Madagascar has the majority of species, with approximately 175 native species. 19 are found on the African mainland, with one, Dombeya torrida, also extending into the southwestern Arabian Peninsula. 24 species are native to the Mascarene Islands, of which 23 are endemic to the islands. Dombeya acutangula is native to east Africa, Madagascar, and the Mascarenes, with a disjunct population in Laos in Southeast Asia.Taxonomy
Formerly believed to hold only about 80 species, in the present delimitation, Dombeya is one of the most speciose Malvaceae genera, containing as many as 255 species. Most have been moved here from distinct genera, which are now considered junior synonyms. Some of these might warrant recognition as subgenera, to show the evolutionary and phylogenetic patterns of the numerous dombeyas more clearly. In addition to the synonyms listed here, Astiria is suspected to be a rather distinct derivative of Dombeya and would thus have to be included in the present genus. This requires renaming of species, as A. rosea conflicts with D. rosea, a junior synonym of D. burgessiae. Furthermore, several species have been moved here from related genera that are still valid, namely Pentapetes.Dombeya of L'Héritier de Brutelle is a synonym of Tourrettia. Dombeya of Lamarck is a synonym of Araucaria.
Selected species
There are 197 accepted species of Dombeya. Selected species include:Image:DombeyaElegans.JPG|thumb|right|Dombeya elegans
Image:Dombeya pilosa flowers.JPG|thumb|right|Dombeya pilosa flowers
Image:Dombeya burgessiae Montjuic.jpg|thumb|right|Dombeya burgessiaeDombeya acuminatissima Hochr. – eastern MadagascarDombeya acutangula Cav. - Bois Bete, mahot tantan. East Africa, Madagascar, Mascarene Islands, and LaosDombeya aethiopica Gilli – EthiopiaDombeya albisquama Arènes – central-eastern MadagascarDombeya albotomentosa Arènes – central MadagascarDombeya alleizettei Arènes – central MadagascarDombeya amaniensis Engl. – TanzaniaDombeya ambalabeensis Arènes – southwestern and southern MadagascarDombeya ambatosoratrensis Arènes – central-eastern MadagascarDombeya ambohitrensis Arènes – northern MadagascarDombeya ambositrensis Arènes – central MadagascarDombeya ameliae Guill. – east-central MadagascarDombeya amplifolia Arènes – central-eastern MadagascarDombeya anakaensis Arènes – southwestern MadagascarDombeya andapensis Arènes – central and eastern MadagascarDombeya andrahomanensis Arènes – southern MadagascarDombeya angustipetala Arènes – eastern MadagascarDombeya ankaratrensis Arènes – central MadagascarDombeya ankazobeensis Arènes – central MadagascarDombeya anonyensis Arènes – central MadagascarDombeya antsianakensis Baill. – central and eastern MadagascarDombeya apikyensis Arènes – southeastern MadagascarDombeya aquifoliopsis Hochr. – eastern MadagascarDombeya asymmetrica Appleq. – MadagascarDombeya australis Scott Elliot – southeastern MadagascarDombeya autumnalis I.Verd. – Northern Province of South AfricaDombeya baronii Baker – central and eastern MadagascarDombeya bathiei Hochr. – central MadagascarDombeya befotakensis Arènes – eastern MadagascarDombeya bemarivensis Arènes – central MadagascarDombeya biumbellata Baker – central MadagascarDombeya blattiolens Frapp. ex Cordem. – RéunionDombeya borraginea Hochr. – western MadagascarDombeya breonii Baill. – central and eastern MadagascarDombeya brevistyla Arènes – central and eastern MadagascarDombeya buettneri K.Schum. – tropical Africa from Guinea to Ethiopia and ZambiaDombeya burgessiae Gerrard ex Harv. – South Sudan to Angola and South AfricaDombeya cacuminum Hochr. – northern and central MadagascarDombeya cannabina – central MadagascarDombeya capuroniana – north-central Madagascar Dombeya capuronii – central MadagascarDombeya catatii – southeastern MadagascarDombeya ciliata Cordem. – RéunionDombeya condensata – central MadagascarDombeya coria Baill. – central and eastern MadagascarDombeya cymosa Harv. – southern Mozambique to South AfricaDombeya decanthera Cav. – southeastern MadagascarDombeya delislei Arènes – RéunionDombeya elegans Cordem. - sometimes included in D. burgessiae – RéunionDombeya ficulnea Baill. - sometimes erroneously included in D. punctata. – RéunionDombeya formosa Le Péchon & Pausé – RéunionDombeya glandulosissima Arènes – eastern MadagascarDombeya kirkii Mast. – southern Ethiopia to KwaZulu-NatalDombeya laurifolia Baill. – central MadagascarDombeya leandrii Arènes – western MadagascarDombeya ledermannii Engl. – Nigeria and CameroonDombeya longebracteolata Seyani – southwestern and southern EthiopiaDombeya montana Arènes – central MadagascarDombeya palmatisecta Hochr. – MadagascarDombeya pilosa Cordem. – RéunionDombeya pulchra N.E.Br. – South Africa: Northern Province to KwaZulu-NatalDombeya punctata Cav. – RéunionDombeya reclinata Cordem. – RéunionDombeya rottleroides Baill. – northern and central MadagascarDombeya rotundifolia Planch. - Blompeer or "South African Wild Pear". southern Ethiopia to South AfricaDombeya shupangae K.Schum. – southeastern Kenya to Mozambique and Democratic Republic of the CongoDombeya spectabilis Bojer – east-central MadagascarDombeya tiliacea Planch. – South Africa: Eastern Cape Province to KwaZulu-NatalDombeya torrida Bamps – Central African Republic to Eritrea, Zambia, and Malawi; also Yemen and southwestern Saudi Arabia.Dombeya tsaratananensis Arènes – central MadagascarDombeya umbellata Cav. – RéunionDombeya wallichii K.Schum. - Pink-ball, "Tropical Hydrangea". Eastern Madagascar