Cecropia


Cecropia is a genus of about 25 species of trees in the nettle family Cecropiaceae. They are native to tropical South and Central America, where they form one of the most recognisable components of the rainforest, easily identified by their large, circular palmately lobed leaves about 30-40 cm diameter, deeply divided into 7-11 lobes.

In the past they were commonly classified in their own family the Cecropiaceae or in the mulberry family Moraceae, but recent genetic evidence carried out by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group has shown they are within the Urticaceae.

Cecropia species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Hypercompe icasia.

The genus is named after King Cecrops I, first King of Athens.

References


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