Angelonia

Angelonia
Angelonia angustifolia
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Lamiales
Family:	Plantaginaceae
Genus:	Angelonia Humb. & Bonpl.
Species
See text.

Angelonia is a genus of about 30 species which occur from Mexico to Argentina and is classified in the Plantaginaceae. They are herbaceous plantas occurring mainly in arid and semi-arid habitats. Most Angelonia species can be found in Northeastern Brazil in the Seasonally Dry Tropical Forest namely Caatinga.^[1] The flowers of Angelonia are highly specialized in regarding to the pollination, because they have hairs in the inner corolla, which produces oils collected by the oil bee pollinators, specially of the genus Centris.^[2]

Cultivation

Some species are cultivated as ornamental plants for their snapdragon-like flowers, but need warm temperatures and large amounts of sunlight.^[3] Garden varieties are mainly cultivars of A. angustifolia.

Species

Includes:

• Angelonia acuminatissima
• Angelonia alternifolia
• Angelonia angustifolia
• Angelonia arguta
• Angelonia biflora
• Angelonia campestris
• Angelonia ciliaris
• Angelonia chiquitensis
• Angelonia cornigera
• Angelonia eryostachis
• Angelonia goyazensis
• Angelonia grandiflora
• Angelonia integerrima
• Angelonia pubescens
• Angelonia salicariifolia

Angelonia salicariifolia species is renowned for its sweet mild scent and relative ease to grow in the tropics.

References

1. Martins, Aline C.; Alves-dos-Santos, I. "Floral-oil-producing Plantaginaceae species: geographical distribution, pollinator rewards and interactions with oil-collecting bees". Biota Neotropica 13 (4): 77.
2. Martins, Aline C.; Aguiar, Antonio J. C.; Alves-dos-Santos, I. "Interaction between oil-collecting bees and seven species of Plantaginaceae". Flora 208: 401. doi:10.1016/j.flora.2013.07.001.
3. "Floridata: Angelonia angustifolia". Floridata.com LC. Archived from the original on 8 April 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-10.