| Common Names - None found | Synonyms - |
| Authority - Endl. ex Schnizl. | Total Number of genera - 1 |
| Gymnosperm or Angiosperm? - Angiosperm | Total Number of species - 11 |
| Plant forms - Tree/Shrub |
| World Distribution - Warm Tropical coasts. Species of Avicennia occur worldwide south of the Tropic of Cancer. |
| Comments - Small mangrove trees and shrubs
The taxonomic placement of Avicennia is contentious. In some classifications it has been placed in the family Verbenaceae, but more recently has been placed by some botanists in the monogeneric family Avicenniaceae. Recent phylogenetic studies have suggested that Avicennia is derived from within Acanthaceae, and the genus is included in that family in the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group system.
Designation of species is made difficult by the great variations in form of Avicennia marina. Between eight and ten species are usually recognised, with Avicennia marina further divided into a number of subspecies.
SEE ACANTHACEAE |