Ternstroemia

plant genus

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Last updated

July 16, 2026

Quick Summary

Ternstroemia is a genus of plants belonging to the family Pentaphylacaceae. These are primarily trees and shrubs found in tropical regions of the Americas. The genus is characterized by its flowers, which have bracts, and sepals and petals that are free but slightly joined at the base.1

Within the broader classification of flowering plants, Pentaphylacaceae includes about 12 genera. Ternstroemia is part of the subfamily Ternstroemioideae, which also contains evergreen shrubs and trees abundant in Southeast Asia, Central America, and South America. The genus Ternstroemia itself comprises over 90 species found pantropically. These plants typically have leaves that are not toothed and grow at the end of each growth spurt.2

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Pentaphylacaceae
The genus Ternstroemia has more than 90 pantropical species. These species have leaves inserted all around the stem; they lack teeth and occur only at the end of each growth increment.
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The genus Ternstroemia has more than 90 pantropical species. These species have leaves inserted all around the stem; they lack teeth and occur only at the end of each growth increment.
Read More