Robinsonella is a genus of flowering plants in the family Malvaceae. It contains sixteen species of trees occurring from Costa Rica to southern Mexico, eight of which occur in the Mexican state of Chiapas.[2]

Robinsonella
Robinsonella lindeniana
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malvales
Family: Malvaceae
Subfamily: Malvoideae
Tribe: Malveae
Genus: Robinsonella
Rose & Baker f.[1]
Synonyms
  • Rebsamenia Conz.

Species

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As of 2022, the following species are recognised in the genus Robinsonella:[3]

In culture

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Trees of Robinsonella speciosa are traditionally grown as ornamental plants in the gardens of the Tojolabal and Tzeltal city of Comitán de Domínguez in the highlands of southern Chiapas, where it is called tenocté; it has beautiful white flowers which appear in May before the leaves do. According to traditional knowledge, it is important for women never to touch the tree, especially when it is in flower, for it will cause them to immediately elope with their boyfriends, and even worse, with whichever man that passes their sight.[2]

References

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  1. ^ "genus Robinsonella". Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN) online database. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  2. ^ a b Beutelspacher, Carlos R. (December 2020). "El árbol de tenocté en Chiapas y su nombre correcto" (PDF). Lacandonia (in Spanish). 14 (1 & 2): 25–28. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  3. ^ "Robinsonella Rose & Baker f. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2022-06-04.