Cananga (ultimately from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *kanaŋa)[2] is a small genus of trees in the family Annonaceae, native to Indo-China and Malesia, but introduced elsewhere.[3] One of its species, Cananga odorata, is important as the source of the perfume ylang-ylang.[4]

Cananga
Cananga odorata, leaves and flowers
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom:Plantae
Clade:Tracheophytes
Clade:Angiosperms
Clade:Magnoliids
Order:Magnoliales
Family:Annonaceae
Subfamily:Ambavioideae
Genus:Cananga
(DC.) Hook.f. & Thomson, nom. cons.[1]

Species

Two species are recognized:[3][5]

Cananga latifolia is listed as a separate species in some sources,[6] but the basionym, Unona latifoliaHook.f. & Thomson, is a later homonym of Unona latifolia Dunal and so is not an acceptable name. Unona brandisiana was explicitly proposed as a replacement name.[5]

References