Cassipourea is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rhizophoraceae, order Malpighiales. The genus is divided into several subgenera, based mainly on the structure of the flowers. It includes about 72 accepted species native to the tropical Americas, tropical and Southern Africa, and the Indian Subcontinent. Species in this genus are trees and shrubs found across a broad pantropical range.
Distribution
Cassipourea has a broad pantropical distribution, with species native to the tropical Americas (including the Caribbean, Central America, and northern South America), tropical and Southern Africa (from West Africa to Mozambique and South Africa), and the Indian Subcontinent (including Sri Lanka). The genus is divided into subgenera based primarily on floral structure, which may correlate with geographic regions.
Taxonomy
Cassipourea belongs to the family Rhizophoraceae (mangrove family) and order Malpighiales. The genus is divided into several subgenera, based mainly on the structure of the flowers — a key diagnostic feature for distinguishing infrageneric groups. About 72 species are currently accepted, though GBIF records only 2 descendants under this genus key, suggesting incomplete taxonomic coverage in that database. The genus spans three continents (Americas, Africa, and Asia) with the highest diversity in tropical Africa.
