Ditaxis is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Euphorbiaceae, placed within the order Malpighiales. The genus was originally described by Vahl ex A.Jussieu and published in Euphorb. Gen.: 27 (1824). Plants in this group are commonly known as silverbushes, a name shared with the closely related genus Argythamnia, into which most Ditaxis species have been reclassified in recent decades.
The genus is native to the Americas, with its range extending from the southwestern and south-central United States south through Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and into South America as far as southern Argentina. Species grow across a wide range of habitats within this broad geographic area.
Taxonomically, Ditaxis has undergone significant revision. Current treatments widely regard it as a synonym of, or merged into, Argythamnia, which accommodates approximately 66 accepted species. Several additional species formerly placed in Ditaxis have been redistributed to other genera, including Caperonia, Chiropetalum, Croton, Philyra, and Speranskia. Synonyms of Ditaxis recognised in the literature include Aphora, Paxia, Paxiuscula, Serophyton, and Stenonia.
Distribution
Ditaxis (as broadly circumscribed, now largely equivalent to Argythamnia) is native to the Americas, ranging from the southwestern and south-central United States through Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and South America south to Argentina.
Taxonomy Notes
Ditaxis Vahl ex A.Juss. (1824) is a genus of Euphorbiaceae widely treated in current taxonomy as a synonym of Argythamnia P.Browne. Species once placed in Ditaxis have been transferred to Argythamnia and to other genera including Caperonia, Chiropetalum, Croton, Philyra, and Speranskia. Nomenclatural synonyms of Ditaxis include Aphora Nutt., Paxia Herter, Paxiuscula Herter, Serophyton Benth., and Stenonia Didr.
