Azara (plant)

Taxobox
name = Azara


image_width = 240px
image_caption = "A. dentata"
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Malpighiales
familia = Salicaceae
genus = "Azara"
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = See text.

"Azara" is a genus of ten species of flowering plants in the family Salicaceae, native to temperate to subtropical regions of South America. "Azara" was formerly classed in the family Flacourtiaceae.

They are evergreen shrubs and small trees growing to 1-8 m tall. The leaves are alternate, or in some species they appear paired, are simple 1-9 cm long and 0.5-5 cm broad. The opposite-leaved appearance of some species is unusual in that one stipule is enlarged giving the appearance of opposite ["paired"] leaves. The flowers are small, yellow or greenish, strongly fragrant, with a 4-5-lobed calyx and no petals but conspicuous long, often brightly colored, stamens; flowering is in spring. The fruit is a red to black berry 3-10 mm diameter.

Several species are cultivated as ornamental plants in gardens.

;Species:
*"Azara alpina"
*"Azara celastrina"
*"Azara dentata"
*"Azara integrifolia" Goldspire Azara
*"Azara lanceolata" Lanceleaf Azara
*"Azara microphylla" Boxleaf Azara, with fan-like branches and small dark, glossy leaves
*"Azara petiolaris" Holly Azara, with smooth oval leaves
*"Azara salicifolia"
*"Azara serrata"
*"Azara uruguayensis"

External links

* [http://selectree.calpoly.edu/searchresults.lasso?-Search&-Database=ufei&-Table=selectree&-KeyField=ID&Genus=Azara Tree Selection Guide: Azara]
*Pictures and information of [http://www.chilebosque.cl/shrb/adent.html "A. dentata"] , [http://www.chilebosque.cl/shrb/amicr.html "A. microphylla"] and [http://www.chilebosque.cl/shrb/apeti.html "A. petiolaris"]