Pentas lanceolata


Pentas lanceolata, commonly known as Egyptian starcluster, is a species of flowering plant in the madder family, Rubiaceae that is native to tropical Africa from Sudan to Democratic Republic of the Congo and Mozambique, as well as Saudi Arabia and Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula. It is sometimes planted in butterfly gardens.

Subspecies and varieties

Eight subspecies and varieties are accepted.
  • Pentas lanceolata var. angustifolia – Tanzania
  • Pentas lanceolata subsp. cymosa – Comoro Islands
  • Pentas lanceolata subsp. lanceolata – Eritrea to Mozambique and Saudi Arabia and Yemen
  • Pentas lanceolata var. leucaster – eastern DR Congo to Ethiopia and northern Tanzania
  • Pentas lanceolata var. nemorosa – Ethiopia, Kenya, and northern Tanzania
  • Pentas lanceolata var. oncostipula – Tanzania, Malawi, and Mozambique
  • Pentas lanceolata subsp. quartiniana – Eritrea, Ethiopia, Burundi, and eastern DR Congo
  • Pentas lanceolata var. usambarica – eastern Usambara Mountains of Tanzania