Caesalpinia

Caesalpinia is a genus of flowering plants in the legume family, Fabaceae. Historically, membership within the genus has been highly variable, with different publications including anywhere from 70 to 165 species, depending largely on the inclusion or exclusion of species alternately listed under genera such as Hoffmannseggia. It contains tropical or subtropical woody plants. The generic name honours the botanist, physician, and philosopher Andrea Cesalpino (1519–1603). The name Caesalpinaceae at family level, or Caesalpinioideae at the level of subfamily, is based on this generic name. Caesalpinia was once much larger, but most of the species assigned to it have been segregated into separate genera. It currently comprises the following species: The following species are currently assigned to Caesalpinia but will eventually be transferred to the genus Guilandina once the necessary taxonomic revisions have been published. The following species are currently assigned to Caesalpinia but may form an independent genus, in which case the name Ticanto Adans. 1763 would be reinstated to accommodate these species: Some species are grown for their ornamental flowers.