Citharexylum, commonly known as fiddlewoods or zitherwoods, is a genus of approximately 78 accepted species of shrubs and trees in the verbena family, Verbenaceae, placed in the order Lamiales. The genus is entirely native to the Americas, with its range extending from southern Florida and the state of Texas in the United States through Central America, the Caribbean, and South America as far south as Argentina. The greatest concentration of species occurs in Mexico and along the Andes mountain chain.
Members of the genus are woody plants recognized by their often four-angled or winged stems, opposite or whorled leaves, and small tubular flowers borne in terminal or axillary racemes. The fruits are small, fleshy drupes that are attractive to birds. The wood is hard and fine-grained, a quality that gave rise to both the common name and the scientific one.
Several species have been introduced beyond their native range as ornamentals. Citharexylum spinosum (Spiny fiddlewood), native to the West Indies, has naturalized in India, Mozambique, Fiji, and Bermuda. Citharexylum caudatum and C. spinosum are particularly widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical gardens for their fragrant flowers and bird-attracting fruits.
Etymology
The name Citharexylum derives from the Greek words κιθάρα (kithara, meaning "lyre" or "zither") and ξύλον (xylon, meaning "wood"). This refers to the traditional use of the genus's hard, resonant wood in constructing the sounding boards of stringed musical instruments, which also inspired the common names fiddlewood and zitherwood.
Distribution
The genus ranges across the Americas from southern Florida and Texas in the United States through Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and South America to Argentina. Species diversity is highest in Mexico and the Andes. Citharexylum spinosum has been introduced and naturalized beyond this range in India, Mozambique, Fiji, and Bermuda.
Cultivation
Citharexylum caudatum and C. spinosum are the species most widely grown as ornamentals in tropical and subtropical regions. They are valued for their fragrant flowers and small, bird-attracting fruits. C. spinosum has naturalized outside its native range in parts of Africa, South Asia, and the Pacific.
