Cornutia is a genus of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae, within the order Lamiales. It was first described by Linnaeus in 1753 (Plumier's manuscript name validated by Linnaeus, Plum. ex L.), published in Species Plantarum. The GBIF backbone lists 16 taxa under the genus (including synonyms and infraspecific names), while Wikipedia's species treatment recognizes eight accepted species; recorded synonyms include Agnanthus, Hosta Jacq. (a later homonym of the unrelated, better-known genus Hosta Tratt.), and Hostana.
Species of Cornutia are native to the tropical Western Hemisphere, with a range spanning southern Mexico, Central America, the West Indies, and northern South America. GBIF occurrence and distribution data corroborate this broad Neotropical range, with records spanning Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, French Guiana, Jamaica, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.
Individual species carry restricted ranges within this broader distribution: Cornutia pyramidata, the most widespread member, occurs from southern Mexico through Central America, the West Indies, and into northern South America; Cornutia obovata, known by the Spanish common name "Palo de nigua," is confined to Puerto Rico and is federally listed as Endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Other species in the genus, such as C. jamaicensis and C. thyrsoidea, are similarly narrow West Indian endemics, while C. odorata extends along the Andean fringe of South America.
Distribution
Species of Cornutia are native to the tropical Western Hemisphere, ranging from southern Mexico and Central America through the West Indies to northern South America, with GBIF occurrence records spanning Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, French Guiana, Jamaica, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.
Taxonomy Notes
The genus was described by Linnaeus in 1753 (Plum. ex L.), published in Species Plantarum. Recorded synonyms include Agnanthus Vaill. ex L., Hosta Jacq. (a later homonym unrelated to the familiar garden genus Hosta Tratt.), and Hostana Pers.
Conservation
Cornutia obovata, a Puerto Rican endemic known locally as "Palo de nigua," is listed as Endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act (listed 4/7/1988), per a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service-credited photograph.
